uss 


DancroiT    iDrarv 


36xii  CONGRESS,  )  SENATE.  C   Ex.  Doc. 

1st  Session.   .  (  (     No.  42. 


MESSAGE 


THE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


COMMUNICATING, 


In  compliance  ivith  a  resolution  of  the  Senate,  information  in  relation  to 
the  massacre  at  Mountain  Meadows,  and  other  massacres  in  Utah 
Territory. 


MAY  4,  1860. — Read  and  ordered  to  lie  on  the  table. 
MAY  18,  I860.— Ordered  to  be  printed. 


To  the  Senate: 

In  compliance  with  the  resolution  of  the  Senate,  adopted  March  19, 
1860,  calling  for  the  correspondence,  &c.,  in  relation  to  the  Mountain 
Meadow  and  other  massacres  in  Utah  Territory,  I  have  the  honor  to 
transmit  the  report,  with  accompanying  documents,  of  the  Secretary 
of  the  Interior,  who  was  instructed  to  collect  the  information. 

JAMES  BUCHANAN. 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  May  1,  1860. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 

April  W,  I860. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt,  by  reference  from 
you,  of  the  resolution  of  the  Senate  calling  for  all  correspondence,  &c. 
in  relation  to  the  massacre  at  Mountain  Meadows,  and  other  massacres 
in  Utah  Territory,  and  to  transmit  herewith  the  following  papers,  viz: 
copies  of  correspondence,  &c.,  on  file  in  the  War  Department,  (A,) 
with  a  copy  of  the  letter  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  transmitting  the 
same  to  this  department;  copies  of  all  papers  on  file  in  the  Indian 
Office,  (B,)  with  a  copy  of  the  report  of  the  Commissioner  of  Indian 
Affairs  transmitting  the  same ;  and  copies  of  the  correspondence  be 
tween  this  department  and  A.  Wilson,  Esq.,  United  States  district 
attorney  for  Utah,  (C.)  These  documents  are  believed  to  contain  all 
the  information  in  the  possession  of  the  governmental!  relation  to  the 
massacre  at  Mountain  Meadows. 

The  information  in  relation  to  subsequent  massacres  in  Utah  Terri- 


2        •  MASSACRE   AT    MOUNTAIN    MEADOWS. 

tory  will  be  found  in  the  correspondence  (D)  accompanying  the  report 
of  the  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs. 
With  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant. 

J.  THOMPSON, 

Secretary. 
THE  PRESIDENT. 


WAR  DEPARTMENT,  April  13,  1860. 

SIR:  In  compliance  with  the  request  contained  in  your  letter  of  the 
22d  ultimo,  communicating  a  copy  of  the  resolution  adopted  by  the 
Senate  on  the  19th,  calling  upon  the  President  for  information  touch 
ing  the  massacre  at  Mountain  Meadows,  in  August,  1857,  I  have  the 
honor  to  transmit,  herewith,  copies  of  the  papers  named  in  the  accom 
panying  schedule,  embracing  all  the  particulars  in  possession  of  this 
department,  relating  to  the  subject. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  B.  FLOYD, 

Secretary  of  War. 
Hon.  J.  THOMPSON, 

Secretary  of  the  Interior. 


A. 

Ijist  of  papers  accompanying  letter  from  the  Secretary  of  War  to  the 
Secretary  of  the  Interior  of  April  13,  1860,  relative  to  the  Mountain 
Meadow  Massacre. 

1.  Hon.  A.  B  Greenwood  to  Mr.  Floyd,  March  6,  1858. 

2.  Mr.  Floyd  to  Hon.  A.  B.  Greenwood,  March  11,  1858. 

3.  General  Johnston  to  General  Scott,  April  2*7,  1859. 

a.  From  the  Adjutant  General,  May  5,  1858. 

b.  To  Dr.  Forney,  September  2,  1858. 

c.  From  same,  September  10,  1858. 

d.  Orders,  April  15,  1859. 

4.  Captain  Campbell  to  General  Johnston,  April  30,  1859. 

5.  Dr.  Forney  to  same,  May  1,  1859. 

6.  Mr.  Floyd  to  same,  May  6,  1859. 

7.  Dr.  Forney  to  same,  June  15,  1859. 

8.  General  Johnston  to  Dr.  Forney,  June  16,  1859. 

9.  Same  to  Colonel  Crosman,  June  20,  1859. 

10.  Dr.  Forney  to  General  Johnston,  June  20,  1859. 

11.  General  Johnston  to  the  Adjutant  General,  June  27,  1859. 
a.  Orders,  June  23. 

12.  Same  to  same,  July  13,  1859. 

a.  To  Captain  Campbell,  April  17. 

b.  From  same,  July  6. 

c.  Dr.  Brewer  to  same,  May  6. 

13.  Same  to  same,  August  17,  1859. 

a.  From  Mr.  Gumming,  August  3. 

b.  Dr.  Forney  to  same,  August  2. 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 

c.  Mr.  Smith  to  Dr.  Forney,  August  1. 

d.  To  Mr.  Gumming,  August  5. 

e.  Orders,  August  5. 

/.  To  Major  Lynde,  August  6. 
g.  To  Lieutenant  Gay,  August  6. 
h.  From  same,  August  15. 
t.    Orders,  August  14. 

j.  To  Commander  of  the  Bear  Kiver  Expedition,  August  15, 
14.  Same  to  General  Scott,  November  2,  1859. 

a.  Mr.  Lander  to  Dr.  Forney,  August  16. 

b.  From  Lieutenant  Gay,  August  17. 

c.  From  Major  Lynde,  August  20. 

d.  To  same,  August  26. 

e.  From  same,  August  26. 

/.  From  same,  September  10. 

g.  From  Dr.  Forney,  September  22. 

h.  From  Major  Lynde,  October  24. 


1.  Mr.  Greenwood  to  Mr.  Floyd. 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  March,  6,  1858. 

SIR:  I  have  just  received  the  published  proceedings  of  a  public 
meeting  held  in  Carroll  county,  Arkansas,  in  relation  to  the  massacre 
of  their  friends  and  relations  on  the  Plains,  last  summer,  by  the  Mor 
mons  and  Indians,  near  Cedar  City,  in  Utah  Territory. 

You  will  perceive  by  the  proceedings,  which  I  send  you  herewith, 
that  it  is  alleged  that  these  barbarous  wretches  have  now  in  their  cus 
tody  some  fifteen  children,  whose  lives  were  spared,  according  to  their 
information ;  and  they  earnestly  invoke  the  aid  of  the  government  to 
enable  them  to  recover  the  children  alleged  to  be  in  their  custody. 
They  also  call  upon  the  delegation  in  Congress  to  bring  the  matter 
before  the  proper  authorities  here,  and  obtain  whatever  suggestions 
they  may  see  proper  to  make,  that  will  enable  these  distressed  people 
to  reclaim  the  survivors  of  the  massacre.  Thinking  the  Department 
of  War  to  be  the  proper  one  to  correspond  with,  I  have  thought  proper 
to  address  you,  hoping  you  will  be  able  to  communicate  something 
that  will  to  some  extent  relieve  the  friends  of  those  who  have  been  so 
brutally  murdered.  They  also  ask  that  an  appropriation  be  made  to 
defray  the  expenses  which  it  may  be  necessary  to  incur  in  order  to 
reclaim  and  bring  home  to  their  relatives  the  children  that  have  been 
spared. 

I  should  be  pleased  to  receive  any  communication  that  you  may 
think  proper  to  make ;  and  should  you  deem  it  advisable  to  recommend 
an  appropriation,  I  shall  take  great  pleasure  in  referring  your  recom 
mendation  to  the  proper  committee. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD. 

Hon.  JOHN  B.  FLOYD, 

Secretary  of  War,  Washington  city,  D.  C. 


4  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 


2.   Mr.  Floyd  to  A.  B.  Greenwood. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT, 
Washington ,  March  11,  1858. 

"SiR:  I  have  received  your  letter  of  the  6th  instant,  inclosing  the 
published  proceedings  of  a  public  meeting  held  in  Carrollton,  Arkan 
sas,  the  1st  ultimo,  relative  to  the  massacre  of  a  party  of  emigrants 
from  Arkansas,  by  Mormons  and  Indians,  in  the  month  of  July  last. 

This  department  has,  at  present,  no  information  respecting  the  mas- 
•sacre  alluded  to,  or  the  probable  fate  of  the  survivors ;  but  the  news 
paper  slip  accompanying  your  communication  will  be  transmitted  at 
the  earliest  practicable  moment  to  Colonel  Johnston.,  commanding  the 
troops  in  Utah,  with  instructions  to  adopt  such  measures  for  the 
recovery  of  the  children  said  to  be  still  in  captivity,  as  in  his  judgment 
may  appear  to  be  best  calculated  to  attain  this  most  desirable  object ; 
and  should  his  efforts  be  successful,  to  send  the  persons  rescued,  at  a 
suitable  time,  and  under  proper  protection,  to  Fort  Leavenworth, 
Kansas,  whence  they  can  be  readily  returned  to  their  friends  in  Ar 
kansas. 

It  is  recommended  that  a  small  appropriation  be  asked  for,  to  defray 
any  incidental  expenses  that  may  attend  the  execution  of  the  orders 
which  will  be  given  Colonel  Johnston,  and  which  cannot  well  be 
charged  to  the  ordinary  appropriations  for  the  military  service. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  B.  FLOYD, 

Secretary  of  War. 

Hon.  A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

House  of  Representatives. 


3.  General  Johnston  to  General  Scott. 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  UTAH, 
Camp  Floyd,  Utah  Territory,  April  27,  1859. 

'COLONEL:  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  Captain  K.  P.  Campbell 
inarched  for  Santa  Clara  on  the  21st  instant,  in  command  of  one  com 
pany  of  dragoons  and  two  of  infantry,  with  orders  and  instructions 
which  have  been  forwarded  to  you.  One  company  of  his  command 
will  return  to  this  place  with  Major  Prince,  paymaster  United  States 
army,  who  is  en  route  to  this  department  with  a  large  amount  of  public 
money  for  the  payment  of  troops,  to  whom  the  government  is  in  ar 
rears  six  or  eight  months. 

The  motive  for  dispatching  this  force  to  the  neighborhood  of  Santa 
Clara  is  to  give  protection  to  the  numerous  travelers  who  will  pass  over 
the  southern  route  during  the  spring,  and  merchants'  trains,  and  also  to 
make  inquiries  respecting  murders,  which  were  said  to  have  been  per 
petrated  by  Indians  last  fall.  Should  it  be  ascertained  what  Indians 
committed  the  murders,  I  will  order  a  severe  chastisement  to  be  in- 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  5 

flicted.  Captain  Campbell  will,,  however,  make  no  hostile  movement 
against  the  Indians  for  past  occurrences,,  unless  something  transpires 
while  he  is  on  the  route  which  shall  make  immediate  action  necessary. 

In  the  course  of  the  debate  in  the  Senate,  which  is  reported  in  the 
Globe  of  the  9th  of  March,  on  an  amendment  of  the  army  appropria 
tion  bill,  offered  by  Mr.  Sebastian,  for  "  defraying  the  expense  of 
ransom,  recovery,  and  restoration  to  their  homes  of  the  children  sur 
viving  the  massacre  by  the  Indians  of  the  emigrant  train  from  Arkan 
sas,  in  the  fall  of  1857,  $10,000,"  Mr.  Johnson,  of  Arkansas  says:  "I 
have  understood  that  instructions  were  sent  out  from  the  War  Depart 
ment  and  the  Interior  Department  for  an  investigation  and  an  inquiry, 
but  I  must  say  that  I  have  not  been  satisfied  that  proper,  earnest  in 
vestigation  has  been  made  into  this  horrible  transaction,  which  the 
case  merited  at  the  hands  of  the  government." 

With  regard  to  what  has  been  ordered  in  this  matter,  there  seems 
to  be  a  misapprehension.  The  only  communication  received  by  me  on 
that  subject  was  written  on  the  5th  of  May,  and  received  on  the  7th 
of  August,  of  which  the  inclosed  is  a  copy.  I  was  then  of  the  opinion 
that  those  children  were  in  the  possession  of  the  Mormons  who  live 
in  the  district  of  country  where  the  massacre  was  perpetrated,  and  I 
was  apprised  that  Dr.  Forney,  Indian  superintendent  of  this  Territory, 
had  gone  to  visit  the  Indians  of  that  district  about  the  time  of  the 
reception  of  the  letter  from  the  Adjutant  General.  I  presumed  that 
the  recovery  of  the  children,  whether  in  the  hands  of  the  Indians  or 
Mormons,  could  be  best  accomplished  through  the  agency  of  the  super 
intendent,  and,  accordingly,  sent  the  Adjutant  General's  letter  to  him, 
for  his  action.  Inclosed  I  send  his  letter  acknowledging  the  receipt  of 
of  the  Adjutant  General's  letter,  and  a  statement  that  he  "  had  found 
ten  of  the  children."  (He  does  not  say  that  he  received  them  from 
the  Indians,  and  I  presume  he  did  not.)  He  has  now  seventeen,  who 
are  supposed  to  be  all  who  survived  the  horrible  slaughter  of  men, 
women,  and  children  at  the  Mountain  Meadows.  My  action  was 
limited  to  such  measures,  by  my  instructions,  as  would  lead  to  the 
recovery  of  the  children,  and  I  found,  when  I  turned  them  over  to 
him,  that  measures  were  already  successfully  in  progress,  through  the 
superintendent,  who  was  finally  successful,  and  there  was  nothing 
further  that  I  could  properly  do. 

The  implication  (in  the  belief  of  many)  of  the  inhabitants,  or  a  con 
siderable  portion  of  them,  of  that  district  in  the  committal  of  that 
atrocious  crime,  was  not  a  subject  for  investigation  or  inquiry  on  my 
part.  The  judiciary  have  the  subject  before  them,  which  will,  I  da 
not  doubt,  result  in  discovering  the  perpetrators. 

With  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  S.  JOHNSTON, 

Colonel  Second  Cavalry  and  Bvt.  Brig.  General  U.  S.  A., 

Commanding* 

Lieut.  Colonel  L.  THOMAS, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General, 

Headquarters  of  the  Army,  New  York  city. 


MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS. 


3  a. 

ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 

Washington,  May  5,  1858. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  herewith  to  transmit  a  newspaper  slip,  giving 
the  proceedings  of  a  public  meeting  held  in  Carroll  county,  Arkansas, 
some  time  ago,  in  relation  to  the  massacre  of  a  party  of  emigrants  from 
Arkansas,  by  Mormons  and  Indians,  in  the  month  of  July  last. 

The  Secretary  of  War  considers  that,  in  the  progress  of  the  military 
operations  in  Utah,  it  may  be  in  your  power  to  gain  information 
respecting  the  children  supposed  to  be  still  in  captivity,  and,  perhaps, 
adopt  some  measures  which  may  eventually  lead  to  their  recovery  from 
the  Indians.  He  desires,  therefore,  that  you  will  improve  every  oppor 
tunity  which  may  offer  giving  any  promise  of  the  realization  of  an  end 
so  much  to  be  wished  for;  and  should  the  efforts  you  may  institute  be 
successful,  the  persons  rescued  might  be  sent,  under  proper  protection, 
to  Fort  Leavenworth,  from  which  point  they  could  readily  return  to 
their  friends  in  Arkansas. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

S.  COOPER, 

Adjutant  General. 
The  COMMANDING  OFFICER, 

Department  of  Utah . 


HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  UTAH, 

Camp  Floyd,  U.  T.,  September  2,  1858. 

SIR  :  The  inclosed  letter  from  the  Adjutant  General  of  the  army, 
conveying  the  wishes  of  the  Secretary  of  War  that  "all  proper  means 
may  be  taken  to  ascertain  the  fate  of  the  Arkansas  emigrants  mas 
sacred  last  year  by  a  party  of  Mormons  and  Indians  in  this  Territory/' 
&c.,  was  received  during  your  absence  from  the  city  in  the  direction  of 
the  scene  of  this  massacre. 

The  commanding  general  has  learned  that  you  have  interested  your 
self  in  recovering  some  of  the  surviving  children  of  this  party,  and  as 
this  matter  is  one  for  the  action  of  your  branch  of  the  public  service, 
he  respectfully  transfers  these  papers  to  you  that  proper  measures  may 
be  taken  to  carry  out  the  wishes  of  the  government. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

F.  J.  PORTER, 
Assistant  Adjutant  General. 
Dr.  J.  FORNEY,  Supt.  Indian  Affairs, 

Great  Salt  Lake  City,  U.  T. 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS. 


3c. 

OFFICE  OF  SUPERINTENDENT  INDIAN  AFFAIRS  UTAH  TERRITORY, 

Great  Salt  Lake  City,  September  10,  1858. 

SIR  :  Your  polite  note,  inclosing  a  letter  from  the  Adjutant  General 
in  regard  to  the  massacre  of  Arkansas  emigrants  near  Cedar  City,  in 
this  Territory,  was  duly  received,  and  in  reply  I  would  say  that  I  have    /   . 
found  ten  of  the  children,  who  are  now  in  my  possession,  and  am  using   / 
every  endeavor  to  ascertain  the  whereabouts  of  the  others,  with  pros 
pects  of  success. 

I  remain  yours,  respectfully, 

J.  FORNEY, 

Supt.  Indian  Affairs  Utah  Territory. 
F.  J.  PORTER, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General. 


3d. 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  UTAH, 
Camp  Floyd,  Utah  Territory,  April  15,  1859. 

Special  Orders  No.  26.] 

One  company  of  dragoons  and  two  companies  of  infantry  from 
Camp  Floyd,  under  the  command  of  Captain  R.  P.  Campbell,  second 
dragoons,  will  leave  for  Santa  Clara  on  the  21st  instant,  and  be  gov 
erned  by  special  instructions  from  these  headquarters. 

A  medical  officer  will  be  assigned  to  the  command. 

The  command  will  be  rationed  for  fifty  days. 

The  quartermaster's  department  will  furnish  the  necessary  trans 
portation. 

By  order  of  Brevet  Brigadier  General  A.  S.  Johnston : 

F.  J.  PORTER, 
Assistant  Adjutant  General. 


4.   Captain  Campbell  to  General  Johnston. 

CAMP  NEAR  BEAVER  CITY,  UTAH  TERRITORY, 

April  30,  1859. 

MAJOR:  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  I  arrived  at  this  place 
yesterday,  where  the  express  overtook  me.  The  officers  and  men  of 
my  command  are  all  well,  only  the  minor  ailments  incidental  to  a 
march,  and  the  horses  and  mules  are  improving  in  condition. 

There  has  nothing  of  the  slightest  importance  happened  since  the 
command  left  Camp  Floyd,  there  was  a  slight  fall  of  snow, the  fourth 
day  after  leaving  Camp  Floyd;  the  command  left  the  service  that 
morning. 


8  MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS. 

I  shall  leave  here  to-morrow  morning  with  as  much  forage  as  I 
started  with. 

I  am  remaining  in  camp  to-day,  both  on  account  of  a  storm  that 
began  this  morning  and  it  being  the- day  for  muster. 

I  met  Dr.  Forney  at  Meadow  creek,  he  came  into  my- camp  with  the 
Indian  Konosh  on  a  visit ;  he  was  camped  at  the  Indian  farm  on  Corn 
creek,  where  Konosh  lives,  some  miles  off  the  road.  The  doctor  had 
with  him  fifteen  or  sixteen  of  the  children  of  the  emigrants  who  were 
murdered  at  the  Mountain  Meadows.  These  children  say  that  they 
have  never  been  with  the  Indians.  I  did  not  see  the  children,  but  the 
judge  saw  them,  and  talked  with  them.  A  good  deal  of  information 
can  be  derived  from  them  in  relation  to  the  massacre,  as  some  of  them 
are  old  enough  to  remember  the  affair  very  well.  The  express  arrived 
here  at  10  o'clock  on  the  night  of  29th  proximo. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

KEUBEN  P.  CAMPBELL, 
Captain  Second  Dragoons,  Com'g  Santa  Clara  Expedition. 

Major  J.  F.  PORTER,  Assistant  Adjutant  General,  U.  S.  A., 

Camp  Floyd,  Utah  Territory. 


5.  Dr.  Forney  to  General  Johnston. 

SPANISH  FORK,  INDIAN  EESERVATION, 

May  1,  1859. 

DEAR  GENERAL:  Thank  God  that  I  am  this  near  home  from  my 
southern  trip.  I  had  a  very  laborious  and  difficult  trip,  at  the  same 
time,  however,  interesting,  and  my  inquiries  of  the  causes  and  final 
consummation  of  the  awful  Mountain  Meadow  affair,  may  lead  to  ex 
traordinary  developments. 

I  succeeded  in  getting  sixteen  children,  all,  it  is  said,  that  remain 
of  the  butchering  affair.  I  have  the  children  with  me,  they  seem 
contented  and  happy,  poorly  clad,  however.  I  will  get  them  fixed  up 
as  soon  as  possible.  All  the  children  are  intellectual  and  good  look 
ing,  not  one  mean  looking  child  among  them,  they  average  from  three 
and  a  half  to  nine  years  old.  Most  of  them  know  their  family  names, 
and  a  few  recollect  the  place  of  their  former  homes,  others  have  some 
recollection  of  it. 

What  is  more  important  than  all,  is,  that  at  least  four  of  the  oldest 
of  the  children  knoiv,  WITHOUT  DOUBT  KNOW,  enough  of  the  material 
facts  of  the  Mountain  Meadow  affair,  to  relieve  this  world  of  the  white 
hell-hounds,  who  have  disgraced  humanity  by  being  mainly  instru 
mental  in  the  murdering  at  least  one  hundred  and  fifteen  men,  women, 
and  children,  under  circumstances  and  manner  without  a  parallel  in 
human  history  for  atrocity.  I  gave  Judge  Cradlebaugh,  a  few  days 
ago,  the  names  of  such  persons  who,  I  have  reason  to  believe,  par 
ticipated  in  the  affair,  and  when  brought  to  trial  can  furnish  the 
evidence  to  convict  them.  Some  of  these  men  are  by  this  time  arrested, 
I  think. 


MASSACRE   AT    MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  9 

With  proper  caution  all  the  men  can  be  arrested.  I  send  Mr. 
Rodgers  back  with  the  judge,  with  a  business  letter  to  some  of  the 
church  dignitaries. 

I  met  the  military  command  ten  miles  south  of  Fillmore,  all  seemed 
in  good  spirits.  The  country  south  of  Cedar  City  is  poor,  but  little 
grass  and  no  grain. 

The  Indians  south,  at  this  time,  are  quiet  and  peaceable.     To  the 
Mountain  Meadows  there  is  good  grass,  that  far  the  command  should 
go,  for  reasons  you  ivill  learn  by  and  by. 
Excuse  this  hasty  and  imperfect  letter. 

Very  respectfully  and  truly  yours, 

J.  FORNEY. 
General  A.  S.  JOHNSTON, 

Commander  of  Utah  Department,  Utah  Territory. 


6.  Mr.  Floyd  to  General  Johnston. 

WAR  DEPARTMENT, 

Washington,  May  6,  1859. 

SIR:  The  change  which  seems  to  have  taken  place  in  the  condition 
of  things  in  Utah  Territory  since  the  date  of  your  former  instructions 
renders  some  modification  of  those  instructions  necessary. 

Peace  being  now  restored  to  the  Territory,  the  judicial  administra 
tion  of  the  laws  will  require  no  help  from  the  army  under  your  com 
mand.  If  the  service  of  the  United  States  troops  should  be  needed 
under  any  circumstances,  it  could  only  be  to  assist  the  executive  au 
thority  in  executing  the  sentence  of  law  or  the  judicial  decrees  of  the 
court,  and  that  necessity  could  only  arise  when  the  services  of  a  civil 
posse  were  found  to  be  insufficient.  You  will  therefore  only  order  the 
troops  under  your  command  to  assist  as  &  posse  comitatus  in  the  execu 
tion  of  the  laws,  upon  the  written  application  of  the  governor  of  the 
Territory,  and  not  otherwise.  The  fidelity  with  which  you  have 
obeyed  the  instructions  of  this  department  heretofore  given  you,  is  the 
fullest  guarantee  that  you  will,  with  the  same  zeal  and  efficiency,  con 
form  to  these. 

I  am,  general,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  B.  FLOYD, 

Secretary  of  War. 

Brevet  Brigadier  General  A.  S.  JOHNSTON, 

Conig  Department  of  Utah,  Camp  Floyd,  Utah  Territory. 


7.  Dr.  Forney  to  General  Johnston. 

SUPERINTENDENT'S  OFFICE,  UTAH, 

Great  Salt  Lake  City,  June  15,  1859. 

DEAR  SIR  :  I  informed  you  sometime  ago  that  I  had  then  sixteen 
children  in  my  possession,  all  (it  was  then  supposed)  that  were  re- 


10  MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS. 

maining  of  the  terrible  massacre  in  Mountain  Meadows  valley,   in 
September,  185  7. 

Since  my  hasty  letter  to  you  from  Spanish  Fort,  another  child  has 
been  recovered,  and  is  now  also  in  my  possession. 

I  have  collected  these  children  in  pursuance  to  instructions  from  the 
Indian  department,  and  in  compliance  with  those  instructions,  they 
must  soon  be  en  route  for  Leavenworth. 

Messrs.  Russell,  Majors,  and  Waddell  offered  the  Indian  depart 
ment,  free  of  charge,  two  large  wagons,  twelve  yoke  oxen,  and  the 
necessary  gear,  to  transport  the  children  to  Leavenworth  in  company 
with  one  of  their  returning  caravans. 

These  unfortunate  fatherless,  motherless,  and  penniless  children 
certainly  demand  more  than  an  ordinary  degree  of  sympathy.  I  have 
secured  the  services  of  four  females  to  accompany  them  to  Leaven 
worth.  I  will  also  provide  suitable  clothing,  blankets,  and  such 
appliances  as  will  be  deemed  necessary.  I  am  also  directed  to  furnish 
them  with  provisions,  and  I  presume  cooking  utensils,  fuel,  &c. 

My  instructions  from  the  office  of  Indian  affairs  plainly  indicate  the 
desire  that  I  should  send  these  children  by  the  means  of  transportation 
offered  by  Messrs.  Russell,  Majors,  and  Waddell ;  but  I  am  induced  to 
believe  that,  was  the  department  advised  of  the  objections  so  obvious 
to  this  mode  of  transportation,  I  feel  satisfied  that  my  instructions 
would  have  been  materially  modified  or  changed,  and  therefore,  after 
mature  reflection  and  consultation  with  several  gentlemen,  I  am  in 
duced  to  assume  the  responsibility  of  changing  the  direction  of  this 
matter,  provided  I  can  obtain  two  or  three  ambulances,  one  baggage- 
wagon,  a  suitable  number  of  mules,  and  a  proper  military  escort  from 
the  officer  in  command  of  this  department. 

I  therefore  respectfully  request  that  you  will  advise  me  whether  this 
arrangement  can  be  made  without  subjecting  the  service  to  any  im 
portant  inconvenience. 

As  the  caravan  with  which  it  is  proposed  to  send  the  children  leaves 
in  a  few  days,  an  early  reply  is  respectfully  requested. 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  ser 
vant, 

J.  FORNEY, 
Superintendent  Indian  Affairs  Utah  Territory. 

General  A.  S.  JOHNSTON, 

Com'g  Department  Utah,  Camp  Floyd,  Utah  Territory. 


8.   General  Johnston  to  Dr.  Forney. 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  UTAH, 

Camp  Floyd,  U.  T.,  June  16,  1859. 

SIR  :  General  Johnston  desires  me  to  inform  you  that  he  will  provide 
the  escort  and  transportation  needed  for  the  children  surviving  the 
massacre  in  the  Mountain  Meadow  valley,  asked  for  in  your  letter  of 
the  15th  instant,  and  will  also  take  great  pleasure  in  aiding  you  to 
the  full  scope  of  his  authority  here,  and  on  the  road,  in  your  humane 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  11 

efforts  to  transmit  in  comfort  and  safety  those  children  to  Leavenworth. 
The  party  will  be  escorted  by  a  company  of  dragoons  as  far  as  Fort 
Kearny,  whence  their  safety  will  be  secured  by  the  commander  of 
that  post. 

The  party  will  be  sent  for  and  placed  under  charge  of  the  escort  the 
day  before  it  marches,  which  will  be  towards  the  end  of  next  week, 
and  by  the  Timpanogos  route,  if  sufficiently  repaired. 

A  day's  notice  will  be  given  you  of  the  transportation  being  sent 
to  the  city. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

F.  J.  PORTER, 
Assistant  Adjutant  General. 
Dr.  J.  FORNEY, 

Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  Great  Salt  Lake  City,  U.  T. 


9.   General  Johnston  to  Colonel  Crosman. 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  UTAH, 

Camp  Floyd;  U.  T.,  June  20,  1859. 

COLONEL:  The  commanding  general  directs  that  three  light  spring 
wagons,  and  one  baggage  wagon,  be  prepared  to  transport  to  Fort 
Leavenworth  the  children  retained  from  massacre  at  the  Mountain 
Meadows,  in  this  Territory,  and  also  one  spring  wagon  for  the  three 
children  of  the  late  Daniel  Foster,  of  Connecticut,  and  the  person  in 
charge  of  them. 

The  spring  wagons  will  be  provided  with  seats,  and  arranged  for 
the  comfort  of  the  children. 

The  spring  wagons  for  the  first-named  party  will  be  needed  about 
the  middle  of  this  week  to  bring  the  children  to  this  camp,  preparatory 
to  placing  them  under  charge  of  the  escort,  which  will  probably  leave 
about  Saturday  next. 

I  am,  colonel,  your  obedient  servant,, 

F.  J.  PORTER, 
Assistant  Adjutant  General. 
Lieut.  Col.  GEORGE  H.  CROSMAN, 

Deputy  Quartermaster  General,  Camp  Floyd,  U.  T. 


10.  Dr.  Forney  to  General  Johnston. 

GREAT  SALT  LAKE  CITY, 

June  20,  1859. 

DEAR  SIR:  I  received  your  letter,  in  answer  to  mine  to  General 
Johnston,  in  relation  to  the  transportation  to  Fort  Leavenworth  of  the 
seventeen  children,  and  also  your  two  letters  on  the  same  subject. 

I  can  hardly  find  language  to  express  my  thankfulness,  to  General 
Johnston  and  yourself,  for  the  favorable  consideration  of  my  request. 

Have  the  kindness,  my  dear  sir,  to  say  to  General  Johnston  that  I 


12  MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS. 

appreciate  his  kindness,  and  return  to  him,  in  behalf  of  the  unfortunate 
children,  sincere  thanks  for  the  generosity  in  aiding  me  to  convey 
those  little  ones  in  comfort  and  safety  to  Leavenworth,  instead  of  in 
two  ox- wagons  and  in  company  of  sundry  ox-drivers. 
I  will  he  at  Camp  Floyd  to-morrow  evening. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  FORNEY. 

Superintendent  Indian  Affairs,  U.  T. 
Major  F.  J.  PORTER, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General,  Camp  Floyd,  U.  T. 


11.  General  Johnston  to  the  Adjutant  General. 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  UTAH, 

Camp  Floyd,  U.  T.,  June  27,  1859. 

COLONEL  :  I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  departure  from  this  place, 
yesterday,  of  companies  A  and  C,  second  dragoons,  under  the  command 
of  Captain  Anderson,  second  dragoons,  and  to-day  of  light  company  C, 
third  artillery,  with  the  field  battery,  under  the  command  of  Brevet 
Major  Reynolds,  for  the  places  of  their  destination,  respectively,  as 
announced  in  general  orders  from  the  headquarters  of  the  army. 

At  the  request  of  Dr.  Forney,  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  who 
informed  me  that  the  transportation  provided  by  tbe  Department  of 
the  Interior  was  unsuitable  for  the  purpose,  I  have  ordered  spring 
wagons  to  be  furnished  for  the  conveyance  to  Fort  Leavenworth  of  the 
seventeen  children  whose  lives  were  spared  at  the  Mountain  Meadow 
massacre.  I  have  directed  that  they  shall  be  provided  with  subsistence. 
Major  Whiting,  who  will  be  allowed  to  avail  himself  of  his  certificate 
of  disability,  on  his  arrival  at  Fort  Leavenworth,  has  been  instructed 
to  see  that  good  care  is  taken  of  all  the  children,  and  that  they  are 
provided  with  every  thing  needful  on  the  route.  These  children  also 
accompany  the  dragoons,  and  their  commander  is  charged  with  their 
safety  as  far  as  Fort  Kearny,  whence  they  will  be  provided  with  a 
sufficient  escort  to  Fort  Leavenworth. 

With  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  S.  JOHNSTON, 

Colonel  2d  Cavalry,  and  Bvt.  Brig.  Gen'l  U.  S.  A.,  Com'g. 
Colonel  S.  COOPER, 

Adjutant  General  U.  S.  A.,  Washington  city,  D.  C. 


11  a. 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  UTAH, 

Camp  Floyd,  U.  T.,  June  23,  1859. 

Special  Orders  No.  50.] 

I.  In  pursuance  of  General  Orders  No.  2,  of  the  16th  ultimo,  from 
the  headquarters  of  the  army,  light  company  C,  third  artillery,  and 
companies  A,  G,  and  F,  second  dragoons,  will  be  relieved  from  duty 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  13 

in  this  department,  and  will  proceed  to  their  respective  posts  in  the  de 
partment  of  Oregon,  and  the  department  of  the  West. 

*********         **** 

III.  Company  F,  second  dragoons,  is  assigned  to  Fort  Laramie,  com 
panies  A  and  C  to  Fort  Kearny.   -^v» 

Companies  A  and  C  will  inarch  from  Camp  Floyd  on  the  26th  in 
stant;  company  F,  at  FortBridger,  will  march  one  day  after  the  other 
companies  pass  that  post,  and  will  keep  that  interval  between  them. 

Subsistence  (y  of  the  meat  ration  bacon)  for  ten  days  will  be  provided 
at  Camp  Floyd,  and  twenty -two  days  at  Fort  Bridger;  the  additional 
beeves  being  taken  from  the  drove  at  that  post. 

To  this  command  is  intrusted  the  safety  of  the  orphan  children  re 
tained  from  the  massacre  in  the  Mountain  Meadow  valley  in  this  Ter 
ritory,  and  also  the  reclaimed  children  of  Mrs.  Verguson,  widow  of 
the  late  Daniel  Foster,  of  Connecticut.  To  these  infant  wards  of  our 
country  the  command  will  render  every  proper  assistance  asked  for  by 
the  person  specially  charged  with  attending  to  their  comfort. 

On  arriving  at  Fort  Laramie  the  most  efficient  company  of  the  two 
assigned  to  Fort  Kearny,  will,  if  not  restricted  by  modifying  orders, 
proceed  to  execute  the  duty  specified  in  section  6,  paragraph  1,  of  Gen 
eral  Orders  No.  2,  from  the  headquarters  of  the  army. 

The  other  company,  escorting  the  parties  intrusted  to  the  two,  will 
continue  to  Fort  Kearny,  where  a  new  escort  to  Fort  Leavenworth  will 
be  provided. 

IV.  At  the  request  of  the  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs  for  the 
territory  of  Utah,  Brevet  Major  Daniel  P.  Whiting,  seventh  infantry, 
will  supervise  the  care  of  these  parties  of  children  now  being  restored 
by  the  government  to  their  friends  and  relations,  and  will  Carry  out  on 
the  road,  and  at  Leavenworth,  the  wishes  of  the  superintendent.     The 
Foster  children   under   the  immediate  charge  of  Ordnance  Sergeant 
Black  will  be  delivered  to  the  depot  quartermaster  at  Fort  Leaven 
worth,  who,  before  their  arrival,  will  receive  from  the  Secretary  of  War 

instructions  in  regard  to  forwarding  them  to  their  mother. 

*******          ****** 

By  order  of  Brevet  Brigadier  General  A.  S.  Johnston: 

F.  J.  PORTER, 
Assistant  Adjutant  General. 


12.  General  Johnstcn  to  the  Adjutant  General. 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  UTAH, 

Camp  Floyd,  U.  T.,  July  13,  1859. 

SIR:  I  have  the  honor  to  inclose,  for  the  information  of  the  honor 
able  Secretary  of  War,  the  report  of  Captain  Campbell's  expedition 
to  the  southern  district  of  this  Territory. 
With  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  S.  JOHNSTON, 

Col.  Second  Cavalry,  andBvt.  Brig.  Gen,  U.  S.  A.,  Comd'g. 
Col.  S.  COOPER, 

Adjutant  General  U.  S.  A.,  Washington  city. 


14  MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS. 


12  a. 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  UTAH, 
Camp  Floyd,  U.  T.,  April  17,  1859. 

SIR:  The  commanding  general  designated  you  to  command  an  expe 
dition  to  a  southern  portion  of  this  department,  and  has  assigned  to 
you,  in  Special  Orders  No.  26,  one  company  of  dragoons  and  two  of 
infantry. 

The  commanding  general  orders  that  you  proceed  to  Santa  Clara, 
and  remain  in  that  portion  of  the  country  as  long  as  the  interests  of 
the  government  and  the  objects  of  the  expedition  require. 

The  objects  of  the  expedition  are,  the  protection  of  travelers  on  the 
road  to  California ;  to  inquire  into  depredations  which  are  reported  in 
the  accompanying  letter  as  having  been  committed  by  Indians  in  the 
vicinity  of  Santa  Clara ;  and  to  furnish  a  company  to  escort  to  this 
camp  Paymaster  Prince,  in  charge  of  public  funds. 

The  commanding  general  directs  you  to  report  the  result  of  your 
examination  into  past  depredations  by  Indians,  that  if  necessary  addi 
tional  force  may  be  sent  to  you;  and  without  his  orders,  not  to  use 
your  force  to  chastise  Indians  except  for  depredations  arid  murders 
committed  while  you  are  in  their  vicinity,  and  which  need  prompt 
punishment. 

The  paymaster's  escort  (which  will  return  to  California)  will  be 
relieved  by  a  company  of  your  command,  or  by  your  whole  command 
if  the  exchange  takes  place  at  Santa  Clara,  and  there  is  no  object  to 
be  accomplished  by  remaining  longer  in  that  vicinity.  The  new  escort 
will  return  by  easy  marches  to  this  camp. 

Should  you  think  it  advisable  to  remain  on  the  road  for  a  longer 
time  than  you  are  provisioned,  you  will  report  the  fact,  and  make 
timely  requisition  for  supplies,  which  will  be  sent  to  you. 

You  are  desired  to  take  from  Cedar  City  forage  for  the  return  to 
California  of  the  paymaster's  escort,  and  also  to  furnish  them  subsist 
ence  if  needed.  The  latter  will  be  replaced  from  this  camp.  A  guide 
and  interpreter  will  be  directed  to  report  to  you. 

I  am.  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

F.  J.  PORTER, 
Assistant  Adjutant  General. 

Captain  R.  P.  CAMPBELL, 

Second  Dragoons,  Com'g  Santa  Clara  Expedition. 


126. 

FORT  BRLDGER,  July  6,  1859. 

MAJOR:  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that,  in  pursuance  of  instruc 
tions  received  from  the  adjutant  general's  office  of  this  department, 
dated  April  IT,  1859,  I  left  Camp  Floyd,  Utah  Territory,  on  the  21st 
of  April,  1859,  to  proceed  to  Santa  Clara,  in  order  to  protect  travelers 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  15 

on  the  road  to  California,  and  to  inquire  into  certain  depredations  said 
to  have  been  committed  by  the  Indians  in  that  vicinity. 

My  command  consisted  of  one  company  of  dragoons  and  two  com 
panies  of  infantry. 

Nothing  of  interest  occurred  until  my  arrival  at  the  Mountain 
Meadows,  which  are  situated  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  south 
of  Camp  Floyd,  and  on  the  southern  rim  of  the  basin.  Here  I  found 
human  skulls,  bones,  and  hair,  scattered  about,  and  scraps  of  clothing 
of  men,  women,  and  children.  I  saw  one  girl's  dress,  apparently  that 
of  a  child  ten  or  twelve  years  of  age.  These  were  the  remains  of  a 
party  of  peaceful  inhabitants  of  the  United  States,  consisting  of  men, 
women,  and  children,  and  numbering  about  one  hundred  and  fifty, 
who  were  removing  with  their  effects  from  the  State  of  Arkansas  to 
the  State  of  California.  These  emigrants  were  here  met  by  the  Mor 
mons  (assisted  by  such  of  the  wretched  Indians  of  the  neighborhood 
as  they  could  force  or  persuade  to  join  them),  and  massacred,  with  the 
exception  of  such  infant  children  that  the  Mormons  thought  too  young 
to  remember  or  tell  of  the  affair.  The  Mormons  had  their  faces  painted 
so  as  to  disguise  themselves  as  Indians. 

The  Mormons  were  led  on  by  John  D.  Lee,  then  a  high  dignitary 
in  the  self-styled  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter  Day  Saints,  and 
Isaac  Haight,  now  a  dignitary  in  the  same. 

This  affair  began  by  a  surprise.  The  emigrants  were  encamped  near 
a  spring,  from  which  there  is  a  ravine.  Along  this  ravine  the  Mor 
mons  and  Indians  crept  to  the  spring  during  the  night.  When  the 
emigrants  arose  in  the  morning  they  were  fired  upon,  and  some  twelve 
or  fifteen  of  them  killed.  The  emigrants  then  seized  their  arms  and 
defended  themselves  so  bravely  that,  after  four  days,  the  Mormons  and 
Indians  had  not  succeeded  in  exterminating  them.  This  horrid  affair 
was  finished  by  an  act  of  treachery.  John  D.  Lee,  having  washed  the 
paint  from  his  face,  came  to  the  emigrants  and  told  them  that  if  they 
would  surrender  themselves,  and  give  their  property  to  the  Indians, 
that  the  Mormons  would  conduct  them  safely  back  to  Cedar  City.  The 
emigrants  then  surrendered,  with  their  wives  and  children.  They 
were  taken  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  spring,  where  they,  their 
wives,  and  their  children,  (with  the  exception  of  some  infants,)  were 
ruthlessly  killed. 

The  infants  were  taken  to  Cedar  City,  where  they  were  either  sold 
or  given  away  to  such  of  the  Mormons  as  desired  them.  It  is  a  noto 
rious  fact  that  these  infants  never  have  been  with  the  Indians.  The 
property  of  the  emigrants  was  taken  to  Cedar  City,  where  it  was  put 
up  at  public  auction  and  sold. 

These  facts  were  derived  from  the  children  who  did  remember  and 
could  tell  of  the  matter,  from  Indians,  and  from  the  Mormons  them 
selves.  This  affair  occurred  in  the  month  of  September,  in  1857. 

On  leaving  the  Mountain  Meadows,  I  proceeded  on  with  my  command 
to  the  river  Santa  Clara,  where  I  arrived  on  the  8th  of  May,  1859.  I 
sent  for  Jackson,  the  chief  of  the  tribe  said  to  be  most  hostile  to  the 
Americans.  He  acknowledged  that  he  had  committed  some  outrages 
on  the  people  of  the  United  States.  He  made  the  most  humble  protes 
tations  of  future  good  conduct,  in  which  I  put  some  reliance,  if  he  is 


16  MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS. 

not  encouraged  to  commit  overt  acts  by  the  Mormons.  These  Indians 
are  a  miserable  set  of  root-diggers,  and  nothing  is  to  be  apprehended 
from  them  but  by  the  smallest  and  most  careless  party. 

The  commanding  general  having  concluded  that  the  objects  of  the 
expedition  were  accomplished,  I  returned  to  Camp  Floyd,  Utah  Terri 
tory,  agreeably  to  his  instructions. 

I  am  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant,, 

K.  P.  CAMPBELL, 

Copt.  Second  Dragoons,  Com' g  Santa  Clara  Expedition. 
Major  F.  J.  PORTER, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General  U.  S.  Army., 

Camp  Floyd,  Utah  Territory. 


12  c. 

CAMP  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS, 

Utah  Territory,  May  6,  1859. 

CAPTAIN:  I  have  the  honor  to  report,  that  this  morning,  accom 
panied  by  the  detachment  of  men  furnished  by  your  orders,  I  proceeded 
to  inter  the  remains  of  the  men,  women,  and  children  of  the  Arkansas 
emigrant  train,  massacred  by  the  Mormons  at  the  Mountain  Meadows, 
Utah  Territory,  in  the  month  of  September,  1857. 

At  the  scene  of  the  first  attack,  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  our 
present  camp,  marked  by  a  small  defensive  trench  made  by  the  emi 
grants,  a  number  of  human  skulls  and  bones  and  hair  were  found 
scattered  about,  bearing  the  appearance  of  never  having  been  buried ; 
also  remnants  of  bedding  and  wearing  apparel. 

On  examining  the  trenches  or  excavations,  which  appear  to  have 
been  within  the  corral,  and  within  which  it  was  supposed  some  written 
account  of  the  massacre  might  have  been  concealed,  some  few  human 
bones,  human  hair,  and  what  seemed  to  be  the  feathers  of  bedding, 
only  were  discerned. 

Proceeding  twenty-five  hundred  yards  in  a  direction  N.  15°  W., 
I  reached  a  ravine  fifty  yards  distant  from  the  road,  bordered  by  a 
few  bushes  of  scrub  oak,  in  which  I  found  portions  of  the  skeletons  of 
many  bodies — skulls,  bones,  and  matted  hair — most  of  which,  on 
examination,  I  concluded  to  be  those  of  men.  Three  hundred  and 
fifty  yards  further  on,  and  in  the  same  direction,  another  assembly  of 
human  remains  were  found,  which,  by  all  appearance,  had  been  left 
to  decay  upon  the  surface.  Skulls  and  bones,  most  of  which  I  believed 
to  be  those  of  women,  some  also  of  children,  probably  ranging  from 
six  to  twelve  years  of  age.  Here,  too,  were  found  masses  of  women's 
hair,  children's  bonnets,  such  as  are  generally  used  upon  the  plains, 
and  pieces  of  lace,  muslin,  calicoes,  and  other  material,  part  of 
women's  and  children's  apparel.  I  have  buried  thirteen  skulls,  and 
many  more  scattered  fragments. 

Some  of  the  remains  above  referred  to  were  found  upon  the  surface 
of  the  ground,  with  a  little  earth  partially  covering  them,  and  at  the 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  17 

place  where  the  men  were  massacred ;  some  lightly  buried,  but  the 
majority  were  scattered  about  upon  the  plain.  Many  of  the  skulls 
bore  marks  of  violence,  being  pierced  with  bullet  holes,  or  shattered 
by  heavy  blows,  or  cleft  with  some  sharp-edged  instrument.  The 
bones  were  bleached  and  worn  by  long  exposure  to  the  elements,  and 
bore  the  impress  of  the  teeth  of  wolves  or  other  wild  animals. 

The  skulls  found  upon  the  ground  near  the  spring,  or  position  of 
first  attack,  and  adjoining  our  camp,  were  eight  in  number.  Theser 
with  the  other  remains  there  found,  were  buried,  under  my  supervision,, 
at  the  base  of  the  hill,  upon  the  hill-side  of  the  valley. 

At  the  rate  2,500  yards  distant  from  the  spring,  the  relative  posi 
tions  and  general  appearance  of  the  remains  seemed  to  indicate  that 
the  men  were  there  taken  by  surprise  and  massacred.  Some  of  the 
skulls  showed  that  fire-arms  had  been  discharged  close  to  the  head.  I 
have  buried  eighteen  skulls  and  parts  of  many  more  skeletons,  found 
scattered  over  the  space  of  a  mile  towards  the  lines,  in  which  direction 
they  were  no  doubt  dragged  by  the  wolves. 

No  names  were  found  upon  any  article  of  apparel,  or  any  peculiarity 
in  the  remains,  with  the  exception  of  one  bone,  the  upper  jaw,  in 
which  the  teeth  were  very  closely  crowded,  and  which  contained  one 
front  tooth  more  than  is  generally  found. 

Under  my  direction,  the  above-mentioned  remains  were  all  properly 
buried,  the  respective  locality  being  marked  with  mounds  of  stone. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  captain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient 
servant, 

CHARLES  BREWER, 
Assistant  Surgeon  United  States  Army. 

Captain  R.  P.  CAMPBELL, 

Second  Dragoons,  Commanding  Paymaster  s  Escort. 


13.  General  Johnston  to  the  Adjutant  General. 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  UTAH, 
Camp  Floyd,  U.  T.,  August  17,  1859. 

COLONEL:  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit,  for  the  information  of  the 
General-in-Chief,  a  letter  from  the  governor  of  the  Territory,  inclosing 
one  from  the  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  relating  to  the  murder 
and  robbing  of  an  emigrant  party  by  Indians,  probably  Bannack  and 
Shoshoriees,  and  my  reply,  which  will  show  my  action  thereon ;  and 
also  Lieutenant  Gay's  report  of  a  successful  attack  made  by  him  upon 
the  depredating  band  of  Indians. 

I  beg  leave  to  observe,  in  relation  to  the  tenor  of  my  reply  to  Gov 
ernor  Gumming,  that  recent  orders  of  the  honorable  Secretary  of  War, 
a  copy  of  which  is  transmitted  herewith,  places  this  Territory  on  the 
footing  of  a  State,  or  any  other  Territory,  as  to  the  means  of  obtain 
ing  the  cooperation  and  aid  of  the  federal  troops  in  cases  contemplated 
by  the  act  of  3d  of  March,  1807,  except  when,  in  the  opinion  of  the 
governor  of  this  Territory,  their  assistance  may  be  necessary  for  the 
Ex.  Doc.  42 2 


18  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 

enforcement  of  the  sentences  and  decrees  of  the  courts.  This,  you 
will  perceive,  is  a  specific  grant  of  power  to  the  governor,  and  my 
authority  to  furnish  troops  on  his  requisition  is  strictly  limited  to  the 
class  of  cases  mentioned  ahove.  It  is  therefore  that  I  have  informed 
him  I  will  refuse  a  compliance  with  any  requisition  from  him  for  troops 
intended  to  be  employed  for  any  purpose  not  specifically  authorized  "by 
my  orders.  I  presume  it  will  not  he  argued  that  under  any  circum 
stances  he  could  he  authorized  to  call  for  troops  for  military  purposes, 
for  the  performance  of  duties  which  are  strictly  enjoined  upon  the 
commander  of  the  department,  and  more  especially  as  the  offense  to  be 
punished  occurred  beyond  the  limits  of  this  Territory,  in  Oregon. 

With  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  S.  JOHNSTON, 
Col.  Second  Cavalry,  and  Brevet  Brig.  Gen.,  U.  &  A. 

The  ADJUTANT  GENERAL, 

Headquarters  of  the  Army,  New  York  city. 


13  a. 

EXECUTIVE  OFFICE,  UTAH, 
Great  Salt  Lake  City,  August  3,  1859. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  inclose  herewith  a  note  addressed  to  me  by 
J.  Forney,  Esq.,  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  covering  a  letter 
addressed  to  him  by  Samuel  Smith,  of  Box  Elder,  detailing  a  state 
ment  of  the  killing  of  certain  emigrants,  on  the  northern  route  to 
California,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Goose  Creek  mountains. 

The  superintendent  leaves  here  to-day  for  Box  Elder. 

Verbal  information,  communicated  by  the  bearer  of  the  note  from 
Smith,  induces  the  belief  that  a  larger  number  of  persons  have  been 
slain  than  is  indicated  by  the  written  communication.  I  therefore 
respectfully  request  that  you  will  detach  a  suitable  command,  with 
instructions  to  communicate  with  Superintendent  Forney,  at  Brigham 
City,  with  a  view  of  arresting  the  murderers  and  furnishing  protection 
upon  the  road. 

Your  compliance  with  this  request  will  oblige,  very  respectfully, 
your  obedient  servant, 

A.  GUMMING, 
Governor  of  Utah  Territory. 

General  A.  S.  JOHNSTON. 


136. 

SUPERINTENDENT'S  OFFICE,  UTAH, 
Great  Salt  Lake  City,  August  2,  1859. 

SIR  :  Inclosed  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  just  received.  The  bearer  of  the 
letter  gives  additional  information,  which,  with  the  letter,  leaves 
scarcely  a  doubt  but  that  an  emigrant  train  has  been  attacked,  and  a 
portion  or  all  murdered  by  Indians  supposed  to  be  from  the  State  of 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  19 

Oregon.  It  is  said  the  murder  was  committed  near  the  Goose  Creek 
mountains.  A  small  military  force  should  be  sent  north.  I  will  go 
north  to-morrow. 

I  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  FORNEY, 
Superintendent  Indian  Affairs  for  Utah. 

His  Excellency  A.  GUMMING, 

Governor  of  Utah. 


13  c. 

BRIGHAM  CITY,  Box  ELDER  COUNTY,  U.  T, 

August  1,  1859. 

DEAR  SIR  :  Agreeable  to  your  request,  that  I  should  inform  you 
whenever  any  movements  of  the  Indians  took  place  of  any  importance 
in  this  part  of  your  superintendency,  I  wish  to  say  to  you  that  some 
Indians  came  in  yesterday  from  the  north,  with  reports  that  some 
whites  had  been  murdered  some  two  hundred  miles  north  of  this,  on 
the  California  road.  The  reports  were  so  vague  and  contradictory 
that  at  first  I  did  not  consider  it  worthy  of  credence.  But  having 
afterwards  learned  that  some  Indians  had  in  their  possession  some 
horses,  mules,  oxen,  and  other  property  unusual  for  them  to  traffic  in, 
trying  to  trade  the  same  to  citizens  in  the  suburbs  of  this  city,  I 
thought  best  to  institute  an  inquiry  in  reference  to  the  matter.  I  fear 
the  report  is  too  true,  though  there  is  much  contradiction  in  regard  to 
the  circumstances  and  extent  of  the  murder. 

One  report  is,  that  two  Indians  entered  a  camp  of  emigrants  to  do 
some  trading,  and  were  killed  by  said  emigrants.  The  Indians  then 
gathered  their  forces,  and  revenged  their  death  by  killing  five  men 
and  two  children  belonging  to  said  camp.  Other  reports  make  the 
number  of  the  whites  killed  more,  and  state  other  causes  for  the 
massacre. 

I  send  this  by  Mr.  Nichols  Bishop,  of  this  settlement,  who  will  give 
you  further  particulars.  I  send  by  him  a  daguerreotype,  which  has 
been  obtained  from  the  Indians  by  one  of  our  citizens,  and  given  to  me 
to  send  down  to  you.  It  is  stated  by  the  Indians  to  belong  to  some 
of  the  murdered  party. 

Yours,  with  much  respect,  &c., 

SAMUEL  SMITH. 

Dr.  FORNEY, 

Superintendent  Indian  Affairs. 


13  d. 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  UTAH, 

Camp  Floyd,  U.  T.,  August  5,  1859. 

SIR  :  Your  letter  of  the  3d  instant,  requesting  that  a  detachment 
of  troops  may  be  sent  on  the  northern  California  route,,  for  the  appre- 


20  MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS. 

hension  of  Indians  said  to  have  murdered  a  party  of  emigrants ,  and 
for  the  protection  of  travelers  on  that  route,  has  been  received,  and  I 
will,  in  consequence  of  the  information  contained  in  your  letter,  but 
not  in  compliance  with  your  requisition,,  dispatch  a  force,  as  I  would 
do  should  the  like  information  come  from  any  source  entitled  to  credit, 
to  arrest  those  who  may  be  found  on  inquiry  to  have  been  engaged  in 
the  murder,  and  to  punish  any  others  who  may  attempt  to  rob  or 
murder  on  the  route. 

In  view  of  the  very  specific  orders  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  of  recent 
date,  limiting  my  authority  to  comply  with  your  requisitions  for  the 
aid  of  the  United  States  troops  to  cases  which  in  a  single  contingency 
may  occur,  I  feel  it  a  duty  to  refuse  a  compliance  with  your  requisi 
tions  for  troops  in  any  other  case  whatever  than  those  specified. 

Should  any  extraordinary  exigency  occur,  such  as  is  contemplated 
by  the  law  approved  3d  March,  1807,  for  the  use  of  the  military  force, 
the  mode  is  there  pointed  out  by  which  the  aid  of  such  force  can  be 
obtained,  which  of  course  is  well  known  to  you. 

I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  an  extract  from  my  orders  mentioned 
above. 

With  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  S.  JOHNSTON, 
Col.  Second  Cavalry,  and  Brevet  Brig.  Gen.,  U.  S.  A. 

His  Excellency  A.  GUMMING, 

Governor  of  Utah. 


13  e. 

[Extract.] 

HEADQUARTTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  UTAH, 
Camp  Floyd,  U.  T.,  August  5,  1859. 

Special  Orders  No.  65.] 

1.  A  company  of  dragoons  will  march  from  Camp  Floyd  on  the 
8th  instant,  for  the  northern  road  to  California,  for  the  purpose  of 
giving  protection  to  emigration  thereon,  and  attending  to  other  duties, 
which  will  be  assigned  it  in  special  instructions  from  the  commanding 
general. 

A  subaltern  from  one  of  the  infantry  regiments  will  be  assigned  to 
the  command,  also  a  medical  officer. 

The  company  will  be  rationed  for  forty  days,  and  will  take  charge 
of  fifteen  days'  provisions  for  the  troops  of  the  Humboldt  expedition 
under  Major  Lynde,  seventh  infantry ;  two  sevenths  of  the  meat  ration 
will  be  bacon. 

The  necessary  transportation  and  supplies  will  be  provided  from  the 
depot. 

******** 

By  order  of  Brevet  Brigadier  General  A.  S.  Johnston: 

F.  J.  PORTEK, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General. 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  21 


13 /. 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  UTAH, 

Camp  Floyd,  U.  T.,  August  6,  1859. 

MAJOR  :  The  commanding  general  directs  that  on  your  return  march 
you  occupy  some  point  or  points  near  the  crossing  of  Bear  river,  most 
suitable  for  you  to  keep  the  road  under  observation,  and  at  the  same 
time  recruit  your  animals,  and  remain  in  that  vicinity  till  you  have 
only  sufficient  provisions  to  last  you  to  this  camp.  He  wishes  you 
from  those  points  to  send,  always  under  an  officer,  parties  to  patrol 
several  days  at  a  time  the  country  most  occupied,  or  likely  to  be  occu 
pied,  by  Indians.  To  enable  you  to  perform  this  duty  the  amount  of 
grain  ordered  to  be  collected  at  Bear  river,  of  which  I  notified  you  in 
my  letter  of  the  3d  instant,  has  been  increased,  and  fifteen  days'  pro 
visions  sent  to  you  under  charge  of  Lieutenant  Kyan.  I  inclose  a 
letter  reporting  a  rumored  massacre  by  Indians  of  an  emigrant  party 
on  the  California  road,  the  circumstances  of  which  you  will  inquire 
into,  and,  if  the  report  be  true,  make  every  effort  to  arrest  or  punish 
the  murderers. 

In  selecting  camp  ground  on  your  return  to  this  post,  the  command 
ing  general  wishes  you  to  avoid,  if  possible,  in  every  case  camping  in 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  any  of  the  settlements,  and  to  prevent  mem 
bers  of  the  command  lingering  in  or  frequenting  them. 

I  am,  major,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

F.  J.  PORTER, 
Assistant  Adjutant  General^ 
Major  ISAAC  LYNDE, 

Seventh  Infantry,  Commanding  Huiriboldt  Expedition. 


HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  UTAH, 

Camp  Floyd,  U.  T.,  August  6,  1859. 

SIR  :  I  am  desired  by  the  commanding  general  to  furnish  you  the 
accompanying  letter,  reporting  a  rumor  of  Indians  on  the  northern 
road  to  California  having  murdered  a  party  of  emigrants,  and  to  in 
struct  you  in  his  name  as  follows : 

You  will  proceed,  as  rapidly  as  the  condition  of  your  animals  and 
regard  for  their  future  efficient  service  will  permit,  to  Bear  river, 
where  you  will  inquire  into  the  truth  of  this  reported  massacre,  and 
the  circumstances  attending  it,  and  arrest  all  you  may  find  to  have 
been  engaged  in  the  murder. 

Your  command  and  Major  Lynde's  are  to  remain  on  the  California 
road;  the  latter  near  the  crossing  of  Bear  river,  and  yours  west  of  it, 
as  long  as  your  provisions  will  hold  out  and  permit  you  to  return  to 
this  camp  by  the  time  they  are  consumed.  You  will,  therefore,  after 
making  at  Bear  river  all  necessary  inquiries,  continue  to  the  reported 


22  MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS. 

scene  of  the  massacre,  giving  protection  to  emigrants,  arresting  ma 
rauders,  and  recovering  and  restoring  stolen  property. 

It  is  desirable  to  avoid  bringing  on  unnecessarily  hostilities  with 
Indians ;  but  if  they  should  resist  your  demands  for  the  restoration  of 
property  or  the  delivery  of  depredators,  you  will  take  both  by  force; 
and  if  met  by  any  hostile  demonstrations,  or  any  depredations  are 
committed  while  you  are  in  that  country,  and  it  be  possible  to  reach 
the  offenders,  or  those  engaged  in  committing  the  reported  massacre, 
you  will  inflict  upon  them  exemplary  and  decided  punishment. 

In  selecting  your  camping  places,  while  passing  through  the  settle 
ments,  going  and  returning,  the  commanding  general  wishes  you  to 
avoid,  if  possible,  in  every  case  halting  and  camping  in  the  vicinity  of 
any  of  the  towns,  and  to  prevent  members  of  your  command  lingering 
in  or  frequenting  them. 

You  are  desired  to  avail  yourself  of  all  proper  occasions  to  commu 
nicate  to  these  headquarters,  and  report  all  matters  of  interest. 
I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

F.  J.  PORTER, 
Assistant  Adjutant  General. 

Second  Lieutenant  E.  GAY, 

Second  Dragoons,  Commanding  Detachment. 


13  h. 

Box  ELDER,  U.  T.,  August  15,  1859. 

SIR:  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that,  having  arrived  yesterday 
within  six  miles  of  this  place,  I  went  into  carnp,  and  two  hours  after 
wards  had  reliable  information  that  a  large  body  of  Indians  were 
encamped  somewhere  in  the  canon  leading  from  this  valley  to  Cache 
valley.  I  was  informed,  at  the  same  time,  that  within  five  or  six  days 
past  they  had  stolen  a  number  of  animals  from  this  and  the  adjoining 
settlements,  and  that  they  were  the  same  party  who  had  murdered  and 
robbed  an  emigrant  train  on  Sublett's  Cut-off. 

I  immediately  resolved  to  attack  them.  At  ten  o'clock,  p.  m. ,  I  broke 
up  camp  and  moved  quietly  to  this  village.  Here  I  left  my  wagons 
with  a  guard,  and  proceeded  with  a  command  of  forty-two  men,  taking 
with  me  four  pack-mules,  with  four  days'  rations,  in  order  to  be  pre 
pared,  if  necessary,  to  pursue  them  in  the  mountains.  By  two,  a.  m., 
I  had  everything  prepared  for  the  march,  and  having  procured  a  guide 
who  professed  to  know  the  Indian  encampment,  entered  the  canon. 
After  a  rapid  march  of  two  hours  the  encampment  was  indicated  by  a 
number  of  ponies  grazing,  and  in  a  moment  afterwards  by  the  Indians 
jumping  up  from  their  beds  under  the  bushes  and  running  up  the 
mountain  sides,  which  wrere  here  covered  with  undergrowth.  I  imme 
diately  formed  my  men  and  charged  upon  the  main  body  of  them.  In 
this  charge  several  of  the  enemy  were  killed  and  wounded.  They  then 
scattered  and  took  position  behind  rocks,  &c.  Here  they  were  charged 
and  driven  up  precipices  beyond  the  reach  of  men  on  horses.  I  then 
dismounted  my  men  and  kept  up  a  fire  at  least  an  hour  and  a  half, 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  23 

which  for  an  hour  was  briskly  returned  by  the  enemy ;  but  he  gradually 
ceased  to  fire.  The  precipitous  nature  of  the  ground  rendering  it 
utterly  impossible  to  pursue  him,  I  drove  off  his  horses  and  returned 
to  this  place.  The  attack  commenced  just  before  the  dawn,  and  con 
tinued  until  after  sunrise. 

I  am  satisfied  that  the  encampment  was  selected  with  a  view  to 
defense ;  and  for  this  purpose  they  probably  could  not  have  found  a 
more  advantageous  place  in  the  whole  Wasatch  range  of  mountains. 
(It  is  known  as  Devil's  Gate  canon.)  As  soon  as  the  Indians  were 
discovered,  my  Mormon  guide  "  slid"  quietly  from  his  horse,  and  was 
seen  no  more  until  my  return,  near  this  town,  I  overhauled  him.  He 
was  unable  to  give  any  satisfactory  reason  for  his  desertion.  I  have 
since  learned  that  he  came  into  town  during  the  action  and  reported 
"that  we  would  never  get  out  of  that  place."  The  horse  he  rode  was 
one  I  had  furnished  him,  and,  strange  to  say,  was  found  with  an  Indian 
on  his  back.  The  latter  was  shot,  and  the  horse  taken.  If  my  guide 
had  desired  to  lead  me  into  a  fatal  ambuscade,  he  could  not  have  taken 
me  to  a  spot  better  adapted  for  the  purpose. 

The  guide  and  many  others  estimated  the  Indian  force  at  from  150 
to  200  warriors ;  the  number  killed  was  about  twenty,  as  near  as  we 
can  calculate.  I  had  no  men  killed,  but  four  severely,  though  proba 
bly  not  mortally,  and  two  slightly  wounded.  Nine  of  my  horses  were 
wounded.  The  number  of  horses  taken  was  twenty,  nearly  half  being 
American  horses. 

It  is  a  source  of  great  satisfaction  to  me  to  know  that  one  of  the 
horses  captured  proved  to  be  one  which  the  Indians  had  taken  from 
the  train  on  Sublett's  Cut-off,  at  the  time  of  the  massacre  of  July. 
Probably  more  belonging  to  the  same  train  would  have  been  captured, 
had  not  the  Indian  animals  stampeded  during  the  action,  which  could 
not  be  prevented,  owing  to  the  small  guard  that  could  be  spared  from 
the  company  for  the  purpose  of  securing  property. 

I  am  much  indebted  to  Lieutenant  Ryan  for  his  services  on  this  oc 
casion,  which  were  performed  with  a  masterly  intrepidity  and  coolness 
during  the  whole  action. 

Assistant  Surgeon  J.  Moore  receives  the  heartfelt  thanks  of  myself, 
as  well  as  the  soldiers  under  my  command,  for  his  immediate  and  kind 
attentions  to  the  wounded,  and  his  continual  personal  attendance  since. 

The  company  behaved  nobly  on  this  occasion.  I  have  the  honor  to 
refer  the  general  commanding  to  the  list  of  wounded  accompanying 
this  report. 

It  is  rumored  to-day  that  200  Bannack  Indians  arrived  in  Cache 
valley  yesterday.  These,  with  the  number  of  Indians  already  there, 
will  make  probably  about  500.  A  large  emigration  is  near  a  point  on 
Bear  river,  twenty  miles  from  this  (Cache)  valley.  I  shall  wait  here 
long  enough  to  care  for  my  wounded  and  recruit  my  horses,  when  I 
shall  proceed  to  Bear  river,  in  order  to  prevent  the  Indians  from  in 
terfering  with  emigration. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

E.  GAY, 
Second  Lieut. ,  Comp'y  G,  Second  Dragoons,  Com'g. 

Major  F.  J.  PORTER, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General,  Department  of  Utah. 


24  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 


Box  ELDER,  U.  T.,  August  13,.  1859. 

Company  G,  Second  Dragoons. — List  of  men  wounded  in  action  with 
Indians,  in  Devil's  canon,  near  Box  Elder,  Utah  Territory,  on  August 
13,1859: 

First  Sergeant  Thomas  J.  Durnin,  severely. 
Corporal  K.  F.  Cordua,  severely. 
Bugler  Henry  Wintertower,  severely. 
Private  Jacob  Eggersteat,  slightly. 
Private  Samuel  Smith,  severely. 
Private  Michael  Tiernay,  severely. 

E.  GAY, 
Second  Lieut.  Second  Dragoons,  Commanding  Company. 


13  i. 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  UTAH, 
Camp  Floyd,  U.  T.,  August  14,  1859. 

Special  Orders,  No.  71.] 

1.  A  company  of  dragoons  will  be  despatched  from  Camp  Floyd  to 
the  vicinity  of  the  California  crossing  of  Bear  river,  where  it  will  unite 
with   the   command  under   Lieutenant   Gay,    second  dragoons,    and 
establish  a  depot  to  operate  from. 

Two  companies  of  infantry  will,  as  soon  as  practicable,  follow  the 
company  of  dragoons  to  the  same  point. 

These  commands  will  be  rationed  for  twenty  days. 

These  companies  will  be  employed,  under  the  direction  of  the  senior 
officer  present,  in  protecting  emigration  and  punishing  depredators. 

2.  The  commander  of  the  Humboldt  expedition  will,  on  arrival  at 
the  depot,  or  vicinity,  take  command,  and,  with  his  present  command, 
continue  to  carry  out  the  objects  of  the  expedition  as  conveyed  in 
special  instructions. 

3.  Subsistence,  to  last  to  the  20th  October,  for  Major  Lynde's  present 
command,  Lieutenant  Gay's  company,  and  the  companies  mentioned 
in  this  order,  will  be  sent  to  the  depot  in  the  contractor's  trains. 

4.  The  appropriate   staff  departments  will  provide  the  necessary 
supplies  and  transportation. 

As  government  transportation  at  command  is  very  limited,  transpor 
tation  for  the  companies  will  be  restricted  to  absolute  wants.  The 
contractor's  train  will  carry  additional  articles  if  needed. 

5.  After  permitting  the  quartermaster's  animals  now  with  him  to 
recruit  for  a  few  days,  Major  Lynde  will  send  to  the  depot  all  transpor 
tation  not  required  to  bring  all  his  command  to  this  camp  at  the  time 
their  supplies  are  expended. 

By  order  of  Brevet  Brigadier  General  A.  S.  Johnston. 

F.  J.  PORTER, 
Assistant  Adjutant  General. 


MASSACRE    AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  25 


13/. 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  UTAH, 

Camp  Floyd,  U.  T.,  August  15,  1859. 

SIR:  In  addition  to  previous  instructions,  somewhat  modified  by 
Special  Orders  No.  "71,  accompanying,  the  commanding  general  orders 
you  as  follows: 

1.  That  while  in  the  Indian  country  the  troops  be  kept  well  in  hand, 
and  small  detachments  be  not  lightly  risked. 

2.  To  be  cautious  in  attacking  parties,  lest  they  should  prove  to  be 
unoffending  Indians ;  but  to  punish,  if  they  merit  it,  to  the  full  extent 
of  your  power,  all  offenders  who  may  array  themselves  against  peace 
and  the  traveling  community. 

3.  If  the  Indians  sue  for  peace,  demand  the  surrender  of  the  parties 
engaged  in  late  marauding,  and  the  outrages  on  Bear  river  last  spring, 
and  the  restoration  of  all  property  in  their  possession  belonging  to 
others  than  themselves. 

4.  Insist  that  travelers  through  their  country  shall  not  be  molested, 
and  impress  upon  the  Indians  that  all  offenses  against  travelers  and 
the  settlements  will  be  punished  even  to  the  extermination  of  their  tribes 
if  necessary. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

F.  J.  PORTER, 
Assistant  Adjutant  General. 
OFFICER  COMMANDING  BEAR  RIVER  EXPEDITION, 
Cache  Valley,  Utah  Territory. 


14.   General  Johnston  to  General  Scott. 

HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  UTAH, 
Camp  Floyd,  U.  T.,  November  2,  1859. 

COLONEL:  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  Major  Lynde's  report  of  his 
march  from  this  post  to  near  the  sink  of  the  Humboldt  river,  whither 
he  had  been  ordered  to  escort  a  party  of  emigrants  from  this  Territory, 
and  to  give  protection  to  the  emigrants  generally  on  the  route.  It  also 
embraces  a  report  of  his  operations,  with  additional  force,  in  the  region 
between  Bear  and  Snake  rivers,  in  Washington  Territory. 

The  troops  under  his  command,  consisting  of  three  companies  of 
dragoons  and  three  of  infantry,  were  kept  actively  employed  during  a 
part  of  August,  September,  and  October,  in  scouting  on  the  emigrant 
route,  and,  I  do  not  doubt,  vigilantly  and  faithfully  exerted  themselves 
to  punish  depredators. 

I  have  ascertained  that  three  parties  were  robbed,  and  ten  or  twelve 
of  their  members,  comprising  men,  women,  and  children,  jnurdered. 
One  of  these  parties  was  plundered  before,  and  two  subsequent  to  the 
arrival  of  the  troops.  The  perpetrators  of  the  robbery  of  the  first 
party  were  severely  chastised  by  a  detachment  of  dragoons,  under  the 
command  of  Lieutenant  Gay.  The  troops  failed  to  discover  the  robbers 


26  MASSACRE    AT   MOUNTAIN  .MEADOWS. 

of  the  last  two  parties  that  were  attacked.  They  are  supposed  to  he- 
vagabonds  from  the  Shoshonee  or  Snake  and  Bannack  Indians,  whose 
chiefs  deny  any  complicity  with  these  predatory  hands. 

There  is  abundant  evidence  to  prove  that  these  robber  bands  are 
accompanied  by  white  men,  and  probably  instigated  and  led  by  them. 
On  that  account  I  am  inclined  to  believe  the  disclaimer  of  the  Indians 
referred  to,  of  having  any  knowledge  of  the  robberies  or  any  share  in 
the  plunder.  It  is  more  than  probable  that  these  bands  are  composed 
of  vicious  tools  in  the  hands  of  worse  white  men.  Notwithstanding 
the  number  of  persons  engaged  in  depredating  upon  the  emigrants  is 
insignificant,  yet,  from  the  facilities  afforded  in  an  open,  mountainous 
country  of  wTatching  the  movements  of  the  troops  employed  for  their 
protection,  frequent  opportunities  are  afforded  for  making  attacks  with 
out  risking  an  encounter  with  any  portion  of  the  troops,  and,  after 
having  perpetrated  a  robbery,,  by  scattering  in  retreat,  successfully 
elude  both  search  and  pursuit.  The  facility  for  committing  these  dep 
redations  lies  in  the  circumstances  mentioned,  and  in  the  straggling, 
unarmed,  and  helpless  condition  of  the  emigrants,  (if  provided  with 
arms  they  are  frequently  too  lazy  and  reckless  to  carry  them,)  which 
renders  them  an  easy  prey  to  a  contemptible  enemy.  There  are  some 
who  are  always  ready  for  an  emergency;  but  these  form  the  exception. 
It  is,  therefore,  in  my  opinion,  impracticable  to  protect  travelers,  with 
their  flocks  and  herds  scattered  over  so  extensive  a  route,  by  moving 
columns,  and  it  indicates  the  necessity  of  having  fixed  points  on  these 
routes,  from  which  troops  may  act  during  the  season  of  travel.  I 
would,  therefore,  respectfully  suggest  a  method  by  which  protection 
can  be  assured  to  the  thousands  of  emigrants,  and  their  tens  of  thou 
sands  of  horses,  cattle,  and  sheep,  which  annually  make  the  great 
overland  journey  to  the  States  of  California  and  Oregon,  and  Wash 
ington  Territory. 

I  purpose  to  effect  this  object  by  establishing  temporarily,  that  is-, 
during  the  summer  and  fall  months,  a  force  of  infantry  and  cavalry 
on  the  Port  Neuf,  (near  the  junction  of  the  Soda  springs  and  Lander's 
road,)  and  another  detachment  similarly  composed,  on  Goose  creek, 
near  the  Goose  Creek  mountains,  with  orders  to  scout  the  country 
bordering  the  emigrant  roads  south  of  Snake  river,  and  to  furnish  at 
Beaver  creek,  on  Lander's  road,  an  escort  every  five  days,  commencing 
the  25th  of  June,  for  parties  who  may  desire  protection.  This  escort 
will  be  taken  from  the  detachment  on  the  Port  Neuf,  and  relieved  at 
Kaft  river  by  another  from  Goose  creek,  which  will  accompany  the 
emigrants  to  the  Humboldt,  beyond  which,  if  circumstances  require, 
they  can  be  conducted  to  a  point  of  safety. 

To  give  protection  to  the  emigration  which  may  branch  off  at  Raft 
river  for  Oregon,  I  design  only  to  patrol  as  far  as  the  Salmon  Falls  of 
Snake  river  the  road  to  Oregon,  as  it  will  be  impracticable  to  send  fre 
quent  escorts,  on  account  of  the  scarcity  of  grass  arid  water,  and  to 
relieve  the  settlers  in  the  northern  part  of  this  Territory  from  the  de 
mands  and  importunities  of  the  Indians,  who  rely  upon  them  to  supply 
their  wants  and  to  provide  a  market  for  their  spoils  taken  from  the 
emigrants.  I  shall  place  a  force  in  the  vicinity  of  the  crossing  of 
Bear  river.  I  purpose  also  to  employ  a  portion  of  the  garrison  at  Fort 
Bridger  on  the  emigrant  road  from  Green  river  to  Beaver  creek. 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  27 

Should  any  party  of  emigrants  not  wish  to  encounter  the  delay  con 
sequent  upon  such  an  arrangement,  it  is  earnestly  recommended  that 
they  should  so  organize  themselves  for  protection — say  in  parties  of  at 
least  fifty  armed  men — as  to  be  secure  against  any  attack.  To  carry 
out  these  views,  the  cooperation  of  the  Department  of  the  Interior  will 
be  required.  It  will  be  necessary  for  the  department  to  appoint  agents 
for  the  Shoshonee  and  Bannack  tribes  before  the  commencement  of  the 
emigrating  season.  (I  understand  they  have  no  agents  at  present.) 
These  agents  should  reside  with,  watch  over,  and  advise  their  respec 
tive  tribes,  and  be  instructed  to  warn  the  Indians  to  keep  away  from 
the  roads  or  their  vicinity;  and  that,  if  met  by  the  troops,  they  will  be 
attacked,  as  it  will  be  impossible  to  discriminate  between  the  friendly 
and  hostile  Indians  on  the  routes.  There  can  only  be  the  presumption 
of  guilt,  if  they  go  there.  It  will  not  be  possible  to  detect  the  offenders, 
if  those  tribes  are  allowed  to  resort  to  the  roads  during  the  season  of 
emigration.  This  restriction  is  absolutely  necessary,  to  avoid  involving 
the  government  in  a  general  war  with  the  mountain  tribes.  The  agents 
should  be  instructed  also  to  forbid  any  traders  from  going  on  or 
establishing  themselves  on  any  part  of  the  route  west  of  the  South 
Pass,  as  it  is  wholly  through  Indian  country,  and  many  of  these  men 
are  supposed  to  be  instigators,  if  not  participants,  in  the  robberies 
perpetrated  on  the  route.  To  give  effect  to  this,  notice  should  be  pub 
lished  in  the  local  newspapers. 

The  department  of  Utah  ought  to  be  extended  to  include  the  portion 
of  Washington  Territory  south  of  the  forty-fourth  parallel  of  latitude, 
to  bring  those  tribes  under  the  control  of  the  commander  of  the  depart 
ment  of  Utah ,  and  to  prevent,  under  existing  orders,  embarrassing 
complications. 

I  beg  leave  also  to  suggest,  in  furtherance  of  the  execution  of  this 
plan,  that  the  commander  of  the  department  of  Oregon  should  be  in 
structed  to  place,  for  the  summer,  a  force  at  or  near  Fort  Boise,  to 
patrol,  as  far  as  practicable,  towards  Salmon  falls,  in  cooperation  with 
the  force  of  this  department,  for  the  protection  of  that  part  of  the 
emigration  which  will  diverge  towards  Oregon  from  the  main  route 
near  Fort  Hall. 

I  also  inclose  copies  of  letters  from  Mr.  F.  W.  Lander,  superintend 
ent  of  the  South  Pass  wagon  road  expedition,  and  Dr.  J.  Forney, 
superintendent  of  Indian  affairs  for  this  Territory,  relating  to  the 
Indian  disturbances  of  the  past  summer. 

With  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  S.  JOHNSTON, 
Colonel  Second  Cavalry  and  But.  Brig.  Gen.,  U.  S.  Army. 

Lieut.  Col.  LORENZO  THOMAS,  Asst.  Adj.  Gen., 

Headquarters  of  the  Army,  New  York  City,  N.  Y. 


28  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 


14  a. 

CAMP  ON  WEST  BRANCH  OF  BAFT  EIVER, 

15  miles  from  City  Bock,  August  16,  1859. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  to  you  the  following  important 
information  regarding  a  transaction  of  which  you  have  already  proba- 
hly  received  some  intelligence. 

An  Indian  lad,  named  No-e-no-kook,  in  English,  "  The  Boy  that 
Euns  Fast,"  about  fourteen  years  of  age,  belonging  to  Pocatara'sband 
of  Western  Snakes,  came  into  my  camp  to-day,  accompanied  by  two 
other  Indians  of  the  same  tribe,  and  informed  me  of  the  massacre  of 
a,  small  party  of  emigrants,  about  twenty  miles  east  of  the  junction  of 
the  Fort  Hall  and  Hedspeth  roads,  on  the  west  branch  of  Raft  river. 

The  attacking  party  consisted  of  about  thirty  warriors,  of  the  Salt 
Lake  or  Southern  Snake  Indians,  under  the  direction  of  a  chief  named 
Jag-e-ah,  or,  in  English,  "  The  Man  who  Carries  the  Arrows."  This 
chief  was  the  leader  in  the  massacre.  Two  other  principal  men  were 
present — one  named  Sow-wich,  which,  translated,  means,  nearer  than 
anything  else,  "The  Steam  from  a  Cow's  Belly;"  and  another,  called 
Ah-gutch,  or  "  The  Salmon."  There  were  other  Indians  present, 
whose  names  are  Jah-win-poah,  or  "  The  Water  Goes  in  the  Path  ;" 
Jag-en-up,  or  "  The  Mist  after  the  Kain  ;"  and  Wah-rne-tuh-mah, 
which  hardly  bears  translation. 

Four  white  men  were  killed,  one  man  and  one  woman  wounded. 
After  the  massacre,  the  Indian  party  divided,  a  portion  crossing  the 
mountain  towards  the  Humboldt,  but  the  larger  number  and  the  two 
chiefs  going  back  with  the  stolen  property  towards  Salt  Lake  City. 
They  are  now  said  to  be  either  at  Hush  valley,  a  favorite  haunt  of 
theirs,  in  the  Mormon  settlements,  or  nearer  the  city.  The  boy  brought 
to  camp  a  blanket  taken  from  the  emigrants  during  the  massacre,  and 
which  was  given  him  by  one  of  the  murderers.  He  is  much  frightened, 
having  been  present  during  my  treaty  last  season  with  Pocatara's 
band.  His  idea  was  to  come  in  and  give  up  the  blanket  and  all  he 
knew  of  the  matter.  He  assures  me  that  none  of  Pocatara's  band  were 
engaged  in  the  affair,  which  I  have  little  reason  to  doubt,  as  they  have 
several  times  passed  small  parties  of  unarmed  men,  having  valuable 
mules  and  horses  in  their  possession,  through  their  country  since  the 
treaty  of  last  year. 

I  find  it  impossible  to  induce  the  boy  to  accompany  the  bearer, 
Thomas  Lavitto,  my  interpreter,  to  the  city.  He  is  more  afraid  of  the 
Indians  than  the  white  men.  I  do  not  like  to  use  force,  as  it  might 
prevent  another  disclosure  of  crime  by  destroying  the  trust  of  the 
Indians  of  this  vicinity  in  the  propriety  of  making  such  facts  known. 
I  send,  therefore,  the  blanket  and  the  uncle  of  the  boy,  who  is  in  pos 
session  of  the  facts,  and  can  point  out  the  Indians  designated.  Mr. 
Lavitto  is  also  perfectly  conversant  with  all  the  facts  in  this  case  as 
related  by  the  boy. 

The  boy  met  some  of  the  murderers  near  Rush  valley  on  their  re 
turn  from  the  fight,  and  they  then  told  him  they  had  stolen  thirty 
cattle  and  a  number  of  rnules.  Three  lodges  of  this  same  tribe,  or 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  29 

Pay-e-ah's  band  of  Mormon  Snakes,  have  been  on  the  new  road  via 
Salt  Kiver  valley  the  present  season  on  their  way  to  Buffalo  with  the 
party  of  Ti-wan-doah  or  "Old  Snag."  They  stole  five  horses  from 
emigrants,  two  of  which  were  recovered.  "Snag"  can  point  out  the 
Indians  who  stole  these  horses,  and  should  be  made  to  do  so  on  their 
return  home. 

Jen-too  and  other  leading  Indians  of  the  Snake  and  Pannah  tribes 
desire  these  difficulties  ended,  and  will  give  all  the  aid  in  their  power 
to  accomplish  such  a  result.  This  can  hardly  take  place,  however,  until 
some  of  the  worst  of  the  Indians  are  punished.  The  Pannahs  are  now 
quiet.  I  have  met  about  forty  lodges.  The  Kamass  Prairie  and  Fort 
Boise  Pannahs  have  refused  to  come  into  the  payment,  being  afraid  of 
the  troops,  but  have  sent  back  three  horses  stolen  from  the  whites. 

I  recommend  to  your  notice  Thomas  Lavitto,  who  has  accompanied 
me  amongst  the  Indians  when  it  was  impossible  for  me  to  obtain 
another  interpreter.,  and  when  my  party  had  been  deserted  by  every 
other  mountaineer  from  apprehensions  of  Indian  troubles.  Lavitto 
rides  express  to  bring  the  intelligence  I  transmit,  and,  from  the  nature 
of  it,  will  encounter  much  risk,  not  only  now,  but  hereafter.  It  is  my 
opinion  that  these  marauding  bands  are  stimulated  by  inhabitants  of 
Utah  Territory  to  steal  cattle,  horses,  and  mules  for  their  (the  whites) 
benefit ;  all  my  observations  of  the  last  and  present  season  favor  this 
supposition,  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  the  stolen  property  of  this  last 
massacre  will  be  found  in  such  hands  as  to  fully  justify  the  observation. 

I  have  the  honor  to  request  that  this  letter  may  be  laid  before  Gov 
ernor  Gumming,  and  General  Johnston,  of  the  Utah  army,  and  that  a 
copy  of  it  be  transmitted  to  the  honorable  Secretary  of  the  Interior. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

F.  W.  LANDEK, 
•  Superintendent,  &c. 

Mr.  FORNEY,  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs, 

Salt  Lake  City,  Utah  Territory. 


14  b. 

CAMP  ON  BEAR  RIVER, 
Utah  Territory,  August  IT,  1859. 

MAJOR:  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  I  encamped  at  this  place  on 
the  evening  of  the  15th.  Soon  after  camping  I  ascertained  that  an 
Indian  was  at  the  ferry  inquiring  which  road  I  intended  to  take.  A 
soldier,  sent  to  the  ferry  to  procure  a  guide,  brought  the  Indian  into 
camp  after  dark.  After  considerable  talk  with  him  I  felt  certain  that 
the  Indians  (who  were  engaged  in  the  massacre  of  July)  were  encamped 
in  Malad  valley,  and  that  he  was  the  principal  chief  of  the  party. 
Instead  of  going  to  Cache  valley  as  I  had  intended,  I  sent,  on  the 
morning  of  the  16th,  a  non-commissioned  officer  and  eight  men  to  the" 
hill  overlooking  the  valley  with  directions  to  examine  it  well  with  a 
glass. 


30  MASSACRE    AT    MOUNTAIN    MEADOWS. 

The  party  returned  that  evening  and  reported  that  nothing  could 
be  seen  of  Indians  although  they  had  examined  as  directed  and  gone 
several  miles  further  into  the  valley.  Some  traders  passed  my  camp 
about  dark  and  stated  that  fifteen  lodges  of  Indians  were  encamped 
about  twenty  miles  from  this  place  on  a  creek  running  into  Malad 
river.  I  left  camp  with  forty  men  the  next  morning,  the  17th,  at  one 
o'clock,  and  proceeded  to  the  position  indicated,  arriving  at  dawn  of 
day.  The  Indians  had  moved  from  that  position,  and  we  continued 
on  five  miles  further  up  the  valley,  when  rounding  a  spur  of  the 
mountain  we  discovered  the  Indians  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  us, 
to  our  right,  well  up  the  mountain  slope,  with  their  animals  all  packed 
and  on  the  move  through  a  gorge  or  canon.  The  position  being 
inaccessible  to  horsemen,  I  thought  to  entice  them  down  into  better 
ground,  and  retired  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile. 

This  movement  brought  down  twenty-five  warriors  on  their  horses 
to  within  about  six  hundred  yards  of  us,  where  they  commenced  firing 
and  yelling.  I  continued  on,  leading  my  horses,  to  a  level  spot  about 
one  hundred  yards  further,  and  halted,  with  the  expectation  that  they 
might  be  drawn  further  on,  when  I  could  overtake  them  before  they 
could  get  into  the  mountains.  To  give  them  still  greater  confidence, 
I  had  the  horses  unbridled  and  grazed.  This  was  unavailing  how 
ever,  and  I  sent  forward  twenty  dismounted  men  as  skirmishers,  who 
drove  them  back  into  the  hills.  These  men  were  then  directed  to 
withdraw,  in  order  if  possible  to  get  them  within  range  of  our  arms. 
It  was  impossible,  however,  they  keeping  six  hundred  or  seven  hun 
dred  yards  from  us.  The  firing  on  both  sides  was  kept  up  about  three 
quarters  of  an  hour  without  any  damage  on  either  side,  with  the 
exception  of  an  Indian  and  Indian  horse  wounded  by  chance  shots. 
The  Indians  finally  withdrew  into  the  mountains,  and  having  no 
provisions,  I  considered  a  chase  to  be  useless.*  I  grazed  my  animals 
on  an  old  wheat  field,  and  returned  to  this  camp,  arriving  at  one 
o'clock,  p.  m.,  to-day,  making  a  march  of  fifty  miles  in  twelve  hours. 
The  Indians  must*  have  known  of  my  coming  a  long  time  before  my 
arrival,  which  can  only  be  attributed  to  their  friends  among  the  whites 
in  this  part  of  the  Territory. 

The  Indian  who  came  into  my  camp  proves  to  be  "Pocatillo."  I 
have  him  in  irons.  He  is  said  by  traders  and  others  to  be  about  the 
worst  Indian  in  this  country,  and  I  am  satisfied  that  he,  with  an  Indian 
called  U8am  Pitch,"  were  leading  Indians  in  the  massacre.  As  soon 
as  my  horses  are  rested  (say  to-morrow  night)  I  shall  take  provisions 
with  pack  mules,  and  with  the  arrangements  I  have  made  hope  to  be 
successful  in  surprising  these  Indians. 

I  am,  sir,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

E.  GAY, 
Second  Lieut.  Second  Dragoons,  Commanding. 

Major  F.  J.  PORTER, 

Assistant  Adjt.  Gen.  Department  of  Utah. 


MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS.  31 


14  C. 

HEADQUARTERS  BEAR  RIVER  EXPEDITION, 
Camp  near  the  Ford  of  Bear  River,  August  20,  1859. 

SIR:  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  I  arrived  at  this  place  yester 
day,  and  assumed  command  of  the  Bear  river  expedition  to-day. 

The  horses  and  mules  of  the  Humboldt  expedition  are  in  as  good 
condition  as  when  we  left  Camp  Floyd,  and  we  have  had  hut  two  mules 
died  and  four  taken  by  deserters  since  we  left  Bear  river.  I  shall  send 
the  surplus  teams  to  Camp  Floyd  in  a  few  days. 

As  I  consider  the  protection  of  the  emigration  of  the  first  importance, 
I  shall  send  a  company  of  infantry  and  a  company  of  dragoons  to  the 
northern  roads  leading  near  Fort  Hall,  to  protect  those  roads  until  the 
emigration  is  mostly  past.  The  emigration  by  that  route  is  very  great, 
and  the  last  known  of  the  hostile  Indians  they  were  going  in  that 
direction.  I  shall  employ  the  remainder  of  the  force  under  my  com 
mand  in  scouting  in  this  vicinity. 

I  met  Mr.  Shepherd's  train  which  was  attacked  by  the  Indians,  and 
obtained  his  statement  of  this  affair.  They  were  attacked  in  Hedspeth's 
cut-off,  in  the  day  time,  while  in  a  canon,  and  were  fired  upon  from  the 
rocks  and  bushes  on  each  side  of  the  canon  while  halted  to  attend  to 
a  sick  horse.  Four  men  were  immediately  killed  and  one  mortally 
wounded,  who  had  died  before  I  saw  them.  They  were  entirely  unpre 
pared  for  the  attack,  and  such  of  the  survivors  as  could  get  off  fled  to 
a  train  in  the  rear.  One  woman  was  shamefully  abused -and  beaten 
and  her  leg  broken,  and  a  small  child  was  thrown  into  the  air  and 
suffered  to  fall  upon  the  ground,  by  which  its  leg  was  broken.  The 
woman  and  child  were  recovering  when  I  saw  them.  The  train  was 
robbed  of  about  thirty-five  horses  and  mules,  and  all  property  they 
could  carry  off,  two  gold  watches,  one  silver  watch,  and  about  one 
thousand  dollars  in  money.  The  report  in  circulation  that  two  Indians 
were  killed  by  the  emigrants  is  utterly  false. 

The  Indians  upon  the  Humboldt  river  and  on  the  roads  that  we  have 
traveled  appeared  perfectly  friendly.  The  mail  from  Great  Salt  Lake 
City  to  Box  Elder  and  Brigham  City  is  not  to  be  trusted,  as  many 
letters  sent  to  persons  of  this  command  by  that  mail  have  not  been 
received. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

I.  LYNDE, 
Major  Seventh  Infantry. 

Major  F.  J.  PORTER,  Ass't  Adjt.  Gen., 

Headquarters  Dept.  of  Utah,  Camp  Floyd,  U.  T. 


Ud. 


HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  UTAH, 

Camp  Floyd,  U.  T.,  August  26,  1859.   •* 

MAJOR:  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  com 
munication  of  the  20th    instant,   with    the    accompanying    papers. 


32  MASSACRE    AT    MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 

Inclosed  you  will  find  a  communication  from  Mr.  Lander,  giving 
important  information  regarding  some  of  the  Indians  connected  with 
the  late  massacre  of  emigrants.  The  general  directs  that  the  most 
prompt  and  vigorous  measures  be  taken  to  apprehend  these  individuals 
and  punish  any  bands  that  are  known  to  have  been  in  any  way  con 
nected  with  the  late  hostilities.  As  the  emigration  will  probably  cease 
in  about  two  weeks,  it  will  be  apparent  to  you  that  the  utmost  expedi 
tion  consistent  with  success  is  desirable.  Should  the  Indians  mentioned 
by  Mr.  Lander  be  apprehended  they  will  be  put  in  irons  and  held  by 
you  until  further  orders.  Lieutenant  Gay's  report  was  received 
yesterday. 

I  am,  major,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

LAWRENCE  WILLIAMS, 

Aid-de-Camp . 

Major  ISAAC  LYNDE, 
?*ii]       Commanding  Bear  River  Expedition. 


14  e. 

HEADQUARTERS  BEAR  RIVER  EXPEDITION, 
Camp  on  Bear  River,  U.  T.,  August  26,  1859. 

SIR:  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  Captain  Neil,  fifth  infantry, 
with  his  command,  joined  me  yesterday. 

We  have  heard  nothing  of  the  hostile  Indians  since  we  came  here  ; 
they  have  gone  to  the  mountains.  I  think  it  very  desirable  to  com 
municate  with  those  who  were  not  engaged  in  the  massacre,  as  I  think 
they  may  be  induced  to  deliver  up  the  murderers ;  but  it  will  be  a 
difficult  matter  to  do,  as  they  are  very  much  afraid  of  the  military. 
Lieutenant  Gay  confined  "Pocatillo,"  a  chief  of  a  small  band,  and  he 
is  still  in  confinement  here,  but  I  am  satisfied  he  was  not  engaged  in 
the  murders.  I  think  I  shall  release  him  on  his  promise  to  bring  in 
some  of  the  old  men  of  the  nation  to  have  a  talk.  I  think  there  is 
great  danger  in  attacking  them  of  meeting  those  who  are  not  impli 
cated  in  the  murders.  At  present  the  feeling  of  hostility  against  the 
whites  is  confined  to  a  very  small  portion  of  the  tribes ;  but,  if  such  a 
mistake  should  occur,  it  would  bring  the  whole  Snake  nation,  if  not 
others,  upon  us. 

Captain  Wallen  came  here  last  night,  and  applied  for  transportation 
for  his  supplies  to  his  camp,  as  the  oxen  of  his  train  have  become  so 
foot-sore  that  they  can  go  no  further.  I  shall  supply  him  with  wagons, 
which  will  be  gone  from  this  camp  ten  or  twelve  days ;  when  they 
return  I  shall  send  them  to  Camp  Floyd.  I  send  some  nineteen  teams 
to  Camp  Floyd  to-day. 

Captain  McLaws,  seventh  infantry,  with  his  company,  and  company 
G,  second  dragoons,  left  this  camp  for  the  northern  California  roads 
on  the  22d  instant,  rationed  for  twenty  days. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

I.  LYNDE, 
Major  Seventh  Infantry,  Commanding. 

Major  F.  J.  PORTER,  Assistant  Adjutant  General, 

Headquarters  Department  of  Utah,  Camp  Floyd,  U.  T. 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  33- 


AUGUST  27. 

The  Indians  attacked  a  train  on  "  Hedspeth's  cut-off"  on  the  20th 
instant,  killing  one  man  and  wounding  three  others ;  one  of  the  wounded 
men,  with  a  leg  and  arm  broken,  is  near  here.  The  train  was  burned 
and  some  fifty  cattle  driven  off. 

I.  L. 


HEADQUARTERS  BEAR  RIVER  EXPEDITION, 
Camp  on  Bear  River,  U.  T.,  September  10,  1859. 

SIR:  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  I  have  directed  the  remainder 
of  the  surplus  teams  to  be  sent  to  Camp  Floyd,  and  they  will  leave  this 
camp  to-morrow. 

Lieutenant  Livingston,  second  dragoons,  on  his  return  from  Captain 
Wallen's  camp,  found  on  Raft  river  a  party  of  emigrants,  consisting  of 
six  men,  two  women,  and  three  children,  whose  train  had  been  attacked 
by  Indians  about  twenty-five  miles  west  of  Fort  Hall,  on  Lander's  road. 
Lieutenant  Livingston  sent  a  small  party  back  to  the  place  where  the 
train  was  attacked,  and  found  five  men  "killed,"  and  that  one  woman 
and  two  children  were  missing.  These  persons  are  now  here,  and  are 
perfectly  destitute.  I  send  them  down  by  the  train,  and  recommend 
them  to  the  kindness  of  the  commanding  general  and  the  officers  at 
the  post. 

Every  effort  has  been  made  by  this  command  to  reach  these  Indians, 
but  without  success.  Captain  McLaws  and  two  companies  were  within 
twenty-five  miles  of  the  place  of  this  attack,  and  at  the  same  time,  yet 
in  a  scout  of  twenty  days  he  did  not  see  an  Indian.  I  am  convinced 
that  there  are  no  Indians  in  this  vicinity,  and  I  have  determined  that 
I  will  leave  a  guard  here,  and  with  the  remainder  of  this  command 
proceed  to  Fort  Hall,  and  by  sending  out  a  number  of  parties  in  dif 
ferent  directions  at  the  same  time,  make  another  effort  to  reach  these 
rascals.  I  am  convinced  it  is  of  no  use  to  follow  them,  unless  a  number 
of  parties  act  in  concert;  they  keep  their  spies  on  the  mountains  and 
can  thus  avoid  the  troops.  I  shall  be  prepared  to  be  absent  from  this 
camp  for  thirty  days  if  I  find  it  necessary. 

The  Indian  that  I  had  in  confinement  here  escaped  from  the  guard 
the  night  after  I  wrote  last.  I  have  not  been  able  to  communicate  with 
the  Indians  at  all.  He  told  my  interpreter  that  if  I  released  him  he 
would  not  come  back. 

I  am,  major,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

I.  LYNDE, 
Major  Seventh  Infantry. 
Major  F.  J.  PORTER, 

Assistant  Adjutant  General,  U.  S.  A.,  Camp  Floyd,  U.  T. 

Ex.  Doc.  42 3 


.34  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 


Ug. 

SUPERINTENDENT'S  OFFICE,  UTAH, 
Great  Salt  Lake  City,  September  22,  1859. 

SIR:  Your  letter  of  the  24th  instant,  asking  for  certain  information 
In  relation  to  recent  depredations  by  Indians  on  the  northern  California 
road,  is  received. 

The  Indians  who  attacked  the  first  emigrant  party  on  Sublett's  cut 
off,  were  evidently  Bannack  and  Shoshonees,  the  former  belonging  to 
Oregon,  and  the  latter  to  the  three  bands  of  Shoshonees,  usually 
roaming  from  Willow  creek  and  Box  Elder  county  through  the  northern 
part  of  the  Territory.  I  was  informed  that  from  fifteen  to  twenty  of 
each  composed  said  party.  A  portion,  or  probably  all  the  Shoshonees, 
returned  to  Box  Elder  some  days  subsequent  to  the  depredation  with 
some  of  the  property  supposed  to  belong  to  said  emigrant  party,  such 
as  mules,  cattle,  watches,  bedquilts,  &c.  The  settlers  purchased  none 
of  the  property  from  the  Indians,,  although  offered  at  very  low  prices. 
All  the  Indians  in  and  about  Box  Elder  left  a  day  or  two  previous  to 
my  arrival  there ;  they  went  north  through  Cache  valley.  I  received  the 
above  information  in  Box  Elder. 

A  few  days  since  two  persons  made  deposition  on  oath,  and  left  it 
with  me,  stating  that  they  belonged  to  a  train  which  was  attacked  by 
Indians  on  Sublett's  cut-off,  and  that  one  man  was  killed  and  one  badly 
wounded,  and  two  others  slightly;  these  men  are  now  at  Camp  Floyd. 
I  am  not  in  possession  of  any  facts  of  depredations  on  " Lander's  road." 
I  sent  for  ' '  Little  Soldier,"  a  friendly  Indian,  and  really  among  if  not 
the  most  reliable  of  all  the  Shoshonee  chiefs,  immediately  after  my 
return  from  Kuby  valley.  " Little  Soldier"  assures  me  that  all  the 
got)d  Indians,  comprising  the  band  in  the  northern  part  of  the  Terri 
tory,  have  really  left  there.  Some  have  gone  to  chief  Washakee's 
camp,  and  some  to  other  parts,,  in  pursuance  of  my  advice.  He  also 
assures  me  that  the  chiefs  of  those  northern  bands  have  discarded  all 
the  bad  Indians  who  assisted  in  the  depredations,  and  themselves  also 
left  the  country. 

" Little  Soldier"  further  says,,  that  none  but  the  bad  Indians  are 
now  on  those  northern  roads. 

I  will  get  all  the  information  about  those  northern  Indians  that  it  is 
in  my  power  to  do,  and  will  communicate  to  you  any  facts  that  may 
aid  in  the  apprehension  of  those  bad  Indians. 

I  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  FORNEY, 
Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  U.  T. 

Major  F.  J.  PORTER, 

Asst.  Adjt.  General,  Department  of  Utah,  Camp  Floyd,  U.  T. 


MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS.  35 


14  h. 

CAMP  FLOYD,  UTAH  TERRITORY, 

October  24,  1859. 

SIR:  Having  performed  the  duties  assigned  to  me  by  Special  Orders 
No.  142,  from  the  headquarters  of  this  post,  dated  May  30,  1859,  and 
instructions  from  the  headquarters  of  this  department,  dated  June  5, 
1859;  also  Special  Order  No.  71,  dated  August  14,  1859,  and  instruc 
tions  dated  August  15,  1859,  both  from  the  headquarters  of  this 
department,  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report: 

I  left  this  camp  on  the  12th  of  June,  1859,  with  D  company,  seventh 
infantry,  and  B  company,  second  dragoons,  with  rations  for  ninety 
days,  for  the  purpose  of  protecting  emigration  on  the  northern  route 
to  California. 

Eight  wagons,  with  ox  teams,  left  the  vicinity  of  this  camp  under 
my  protection,  which  caused  my  progress  to  be  slow  at  first.  These 
emigrants  avowed  themselves  to  be  seceders  from  the  Mormon  faith, 
and  stated  that  they  had  reason  to  fear  molestation  from  the  Mor 
mons,  and  for  that  reason  they  sought  the  protection  of  the  troops. 
I  reached  Brigham  City,  the  extreme  northern  settlement  on  Great 
Salt  Lake,  on  the  18th  of  June.  The  distance  from  Camp  Floyd  to 
this  point  is  one  hundred  and  thirteen  miles.  That  part  of  the 
valley  of  Great  Salt  Lake,  north  of  Great  Salt  Lake  City,  is  much 
better  than  south  of  that  city,  the  crops  looking  much  better,  and 
vegetation  being  at  least  three  weeks  earlier  than  in  Cedar  valley. 
Being  informed  at  Brigham  City  that  Bear  river  was  so  high  that 
it  could  not  be  forded,  I  proceeded  to  the  ferry  on  Bear  river,  which 
is  about  ten  miles  below  the  usual  fording  place.  On  reaching  that 
point  I  found  the  river  very  high  and  difficult  to  cross,  on  account 
of  the  miry  nature  of  the  banks.  I  crossed  my  train  by  the  ferry-boat, 
but,  in  doing  so,  had  four  mules  drowned  by  the  breaking  of  the  ferry 
boat.  To  this  point  I  found  very  little  grass  for  the  horses  and  mules, 
as  nearly  all  the  land  producing  grass  is  fenced  in  by  the  inhabit 
ants.  From  this  point  to  the  City  of  Rocks,  a  distance  of  about  one 
hundred  miles,  the  road  passes  over  a  hilly  country,  with  plenty  of 
grass  and  good  water,  with  but  little  fuel  except  sage.  Here  the  great 
emigrant  roads  passing  north  of  Utah  join  the  northern  route  from 
Great  Salt  Lake  to  California.  We  have  met  a  few  small  parties 
traveling  from  California  to  the  States  east. 

At  about  twelve  miles  from  this  point  reached  the  foot  of  Goose 
Creek  mountains.  The  ascent  to  the  summit  of  the  mountain  on  the 
east  side  is  very  gradual,  but  the  descent  on  the  western  side  is  abrubt, 
and  the  hills  very  steep.  At  the  foot  of  these  mountains  on  the  west 
side  is  Goose  creek,  a  beautiful  stream  of  clear,  good  water,  with  a 
valley  about  half  a  mile  wide,  covered  with  a  fine  growth  of  grass. 

The  road  followed  the  creek  for  about  eighteen  miles,  when  it  leaves 
that  valley,  and  passing  through  Rock  Spring  valley  and  Thousand 
Spring  valley,  it  crosses  the  headwaters  of  the  Humboldt  river,  passing 
over  an  abrupt  divide  at  the  head  of  Thousand  Spring  valley.  **From 
Goose  creek  to  the  headwaters  of  the  Humboldt  river,  a  distance  of 


36  MASSACRE   AT    MOUNTAIN    MEADOWS. 

about  eighty  miles,  the  grass  is  scarce,  yet,  by  driving  stock  from  one 
to  three  miles  from  the  road,  a  sufficient  quantity  can  be  obtained. 
Water  tolerably  good,  and  in  sufficient  quantities.  On  reaching  the 
head  of  Humboldt  river,  I  found  the  stream  was  so  high  that  I  could 
not  travel  by  the  usually  traveled  road,  which  passes  down  the  north 
side  of  the  stream  and  near  its  banks.  I  had  to  take  the  road  on  the 
south  side,  which  runs  along  the  base  of  a  chain  of  mountains,  which 
I  found  very  rough  and  hilly ;  but  the  road  was  tolerably  good  as  far 
as  the  south  fork  of  the  Humboldt  river,  a  distance  of  about  seventy 
miles.  The  valley  of  the  Humboldt  river  to  this  point  is  from  twelve 
to  fifteen  miles  wide,  and  much  of  it  covered  with  excellent  grass ;  and 
the  sides  of  the  mountains,  for  considerable  distance  from  their  bases, 
are  covered  with  a  fine  growth  of  bunch  grass.  The  road  crosses  a 
great  number  of  small  streams  of  the  purest  water,  which  come  from 
the  snow-capped  mountains  and  which  run  into  the  Humboldt  river. 
At  this  point  the  mountains  close  in  upon  the  river,  and  the  road 
passes  over  a  mountainous  country,  and  does  not  again  touch  the  valley 
of  the  Humboldt  for  a  distance  of  about  fifty  miles,  near  Gravelly  Ford. 
This  distance  is  over  some  of  the  worst  hills  and  worst  road  I  ever  saw. 

Keached  Gravelly  Ford  on  the  12th  of  July.  At  this  point,  the 
road  by  which  the  mail  from  Great  Salt  Lake  City  to  California  is  car- 
'fied,  intersects  the  road  that  I  have  been  traveling,  and  here  I  found 
a  mail  station.  Here  the  musquitoes  and  flies  became  very  trouble 
some  to  the  men  and  animals,  and  the  water  very  much  impregnated 
with  alkali. 

Left  Gravelly  Ford  on  the  14th  of  July,  and  at  22|  miles  distance 
encamped  at  the  second  mail  station  on  the  river.  At  this  point  the 
medical  officer  of  the  expedition  reported  that  a  private  of  the  second 
dragoons  was  so  sick  that  it  would  endanger  his  life  to  move  him,  and 
that  it  was  very  uncertain  how  long  it  would  be  necessary  for  him  to 
rest.  I  therefore  took  fifty  men  (twenty-five  from  each  company)  and 
three  officers,  leaving  the  remainder  of  the  command  under  Captain 
L.  McLaws,  seventh  infantry.  I  proceeded  down  the  river  a  distance 
of  ninety-six  miles.  The  greater  part  of  this  distance,  the  valley, 
which  does  not  average  more  than  three-fourths  of  a  mile  in  width, 
was  covered  with  water,  and  deep  sloughs,  running  parallel  to  the 
river,  render  it  impossible  to  reach  the  main  stream,  except  at  long 
intervals.  The  water  in  these  sloughs  was  so  much  impregnated  with 
alkali  as  to  render  it  dangerous  for  the  animals  to  drink  it,  and  the 
musquitoes  and  flies  worse  than  I  ever  saw  them  before.  The  persons 
at  the  mail  station  reported  that  no  Indians  were  in  the  valley,  and  I 
had  seen  none  since  leaving  G-ravelly  Ford,  except  a  few  individuals 
employed  about  the  mail  stations.  Believing  that  it  was  useless 
for  me  to  proceed  further,  I  determined  to  return. 

The  distance  from  Camp  Floyd  to  this  point  is  584  miles.  From 
this  point  to  the  sink  of  the  Humboldt  is  about  eighty  miles,  as  near 
as  I  could  judge  from  the  best  information  I  could  obtain.  I  arrived 
at  this  point  on  the  19th  of  July,  and  commenced  my  return  march 
the  next  day.  The  valley  of  the  Humboldt,  below  Gravelly  ford,  is 
narrow,  and  all  vegetation  is  confined  to  that  immediate  valley.  The 
hills  and  mountains  are  perfectly  barren.  There  is  no  timber  in  the 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  37 

whole  valley,  or  on  the  mountains  in  sight  of  the  valley  of  the  Hum- 
lx>ldt.  Near  the  point  where  I  crossed  the  south  fork  there  is  some 
cedar  that  would  do  for  fuel,  and  in  two  or  three  other  places  there  is 
.a  little  dwarf  cedar.  The  hanks  of  the  stream  are  fringed  with  willow 
nearly  its  whole  length.  I  rejoined  Captain  McLaws  nine  miles  east 
of  Gravelly  Ford,  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  where  he  had  moved 
for  a  better  camp  on  the  26th  of  July,  and  on  the  29th  started  from 
that  point  to  return  by  the  north  side  of  the  river,  as  the  water  had 
fallen  sufficiently  to  enable  me  to  travel  on  that  side.  Sixty-five  miles 
above  Gravelly  Ford,  at  the  north  fork  of  Humboldt,  I  saw  fifteen  Sho- 
shanee  Indians,  and  talked  with  them.  They  professed  to  be  friendly 
to  the  whites,  and  the  emigrants  on  the  road  were  not  troubled  by 
them.  All  the  Indians  in  this  part  of  the  country  are  miserably  poor, 
nearly  naked,  and  subsisting  on  squirrels  and  rats  that  they  dig  from 
the  ground,  they  beg  from  the  emigrants  the  cattle  that  die  of  disease 
.and  eat  them.  We  are  now  meeting  great  numbers  of  emigrants 
going  west,  and  many  of  them  are  very  destitute.  I  relieved  many  of 
them  by  issuing  provisions  to  them.  I  reached  the  head  of  the  Hum 
boldt  on  the  3d  of  August,  and  found  that  the  distance  from  Gravelly 
Ford  to  this  point  was  much  less  by  the  north  side  than  by  the  south 
side,  and  the  road  excellent  all  the -way,,  with  the  finest  grass  and 
plenty  of  willow  for  fuel,  and  the  water  very  good.  In  the  Thousand 
Spring  valley  I  met  Mr.  Shepherd's  train  of  emigrants,  who  had  been 
attacked  by  Indians,  or  men  painted  and  dressed  as  Indians,  on  Heds- 
peth's  cut-off,  and  three  men  killed,  and  one  man,  one  woman,  and 
•one  child  wounded  ;  the  wounded  man  afterwards  died.  Their  wagons 
were  burned,  and  their  stock  and  other  property  carried  off.  These 
people  state  that  they  recognized  at  least  three  white  men,  painted 
and  dressed  as  Indians,  in  the  attacking  party,  and  that  those  white 
men  appeared  to  be  the  leading  men  of  the  party.  During  the  season 
of  emigration  many  persons  located  themselves  along  the  different 
roads  with  a  few  goods  for  the  avowed  purpose  of  trading  with  the 
•emigrants,  but,  in  fact,  I  believe,  for  the  purpose  of  inciting  the  In 
dians  to  plunder  the  trains,  and  assisting  them  in  these  outrages. 
They  are  then  enabled  to  purchase  for  a  trifle  the  Indian's  share  of 
the  spoil.  This  practice,  I  think,  should  be  stopped. 

On  the  19th  of  August  I  reached  the  ford  of  Bear  river,  where  I 
found  orders  to  establish  a  depot  at  or  near  that  point,  from  which  to 
•operate  against  the  Indians  for  the  protection  of  emigration.  Here  I 
found  Second  Lieutenant  E,  Gay,  second  dragoons,  in  command  of  G 
•company,  second  dragoons.  On  the  same  day,  First  Lieutenant  G.  A. 
Gordon,  with  company  E,  second  dragoons,  joined,  at  the  ford  of  Bear 
river. 

On  the  20th  of  August  I  assumed  command  of  the  "  Bear  Kiver 
expedition,"  and  attached  the  "  Humboldt  expedition"  to  that  expe 
dition,  and  established  the  depot  about  one  mile  from  the  ford  of  Bear 
river. 

On  the  21st  I  detached  two  companies,  (D,  seventh  infantry,  and  G, 
second  dragoons,)  under  the  command  of  Captain  L.  McLaws,  seventh 
infantry,  in  the  direction  of  Fort  Hall,  Oregon  Territory,  to  patrol 
the  different  emigrant  roads  in  that  direction.  After  Captain  McLaws 


38  MASSACRE    AT    MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 

left,  a  trader  came  to  my  camp  with  the  information  that  another 
train  had  been  attacked  hy  Indians,  and  one  man  filled  and  one  man 
wounded.  The  wounded  man  was  brought  to  my  camp,  with  one  leg 
and  one  arm  broken  by  gun-shots. 

On  the  25th  August,  Captain  T.  H.  Neill,  fifth  infantry,  with  com 
pany  C,  fifth  infantry,  and  company  B,  tenth  infantry,  joined  m$: 
command  at  the  depot  near  Bear  river.  From  this  time  scouts  were 
kept  constantly  moving  through  Cache  valley,  in  the  canons  in  the 
vicinity,  and  on  the  different  emigrant  roads,  and  the  country  thor 
oughly  examined  as  far  as  Bear  River  lake  east,  Fort  Hall  north,  and 
Raft  creek  west,  yet  no  traces  of  Indians  could  be  discovered. 

Another  train  was  attacked  on  Lander's  road,  about  eighteen  miles 
west  of  Fort  Hall,  and  four  men,  one  woman,  and  three  children 
killed,  and  this  when  two  companies  of  troops  were  within  twenty-five 
miles  of  them.  These  depredations  were  committed  by  a  small  band 
of  Snake  Indians,  that  are  known  as  the  Box  Elder  Indians,  who 
frequent  the  northern  Mormon  settlements  and  usually  winter  there. 
The  country  which  they  inhabit  is  so  broken  up  by  mountains  with 
narrow  valleys  between  them,,  with  passes  leading  among  them  which 
no  white  man  in  the  country  knows  anything  of,  that  the  Indians  are 
enabled  to  evade  the  troops  and  to  pounce  upon  any  train  on  the  road 
which  is  imprudent  enough  to  travel  without  being  prepared  to  defend 
themselves.  Every  train  that  has  been  attacked  acknowledge  that 
they  were  perfectly  unprepared  for  defense.  The  Indians  watch  the 
trains  from  the  hills,  and  if  they  see  a  train  well  armed  and  watchful, 
they  do  not  molest  them.  I  have  seen  many  trains  on  the  road  during- 
the  summer,  who  had  plenty  of  arms ;  but  they  carried  them  in  their 
wagons,  and  in  many  cases  without  being  loaded.  They  would  laugh 
at  me  when  I  told  them  of  the  necessity  of  always  having  their  arms 
ready  for  instant  use.  The  emigration  has  been  extremely  numerous 
during  the  past  summer.  I  have  met  as  many  as  300  wagons  per 
day,  which  would  average  four  persons  to  a  wagon,  and  with  at  least 
7,000  head  of  stock.  I  could  form  no  accurate  estimate  of  the  whole 
number. 

The  only  effectual  means  of  protection  for  the  emigration  that  I  can 
suggest  is,  to  establish  two  camps  during  the  season  of  emigration 
and  furnish  escorts  of  one  company  or  more,  say  twice  a  month.  By 
establishing  a  camp  of  four  companies  at  Goose  creek,  and  one  of  four 
companies  near  Fort  Hall,  both  of  which  points  have  the  facilities  of 
good  fuel,  water,  and  grass  for  such  camps,  an  escort  could  be  sent 
from  the  camp  near  Fort  Hall,  of  one  company,  to  leave  the  vicinity 
of  the  South  Pass  on  the  1st  and  15th  of  each  month,  to  be  met  by  a 
similar  escort  from  the  camp  on  Goose  creek,  near  Raft  creek,  and  to 
escort  the  trains  to  the  Humboldt  river.  The  Indians  will  not  attack 
a  train  so  escorted. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

I.  LYNDE, 
Major  Seventh  Infantry. 

Major  F.  J.  PORTER,  Assistant  Adjutant  General, 

Headquarters  Department  of  Utah,  Camp  Floyd,  U.  T. 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  39 


B. 

DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  of  Indian  Affairs,  April  24,  1860. 

SIR:  In  response  to  the  resolution  of  the  Senate  of  the  19th  ultimo, 
calling  upon  the  President  to  "  furnish  all  the  correspondence  and 
facts,  with  such  information  as  maybe  in  the  possession  of  any  branch 
or  department  of  the  government,  tending  to  exhibit  the  circumstances 
and  particulars  of  the  c Mountain  Meadow'  massacre  in  August,  1857, 
or  any  subsequent  massacre  in  Utah  Territory/'  &c.,  which  was 
referred  by  you  to  this  office,  I  have  the  honor  herewith  to  send  up 
copies  of  all  papers  touching  said  matters  on  file  here,,  and  copies  of  all 
letters  emanating  from  this  office  upon  the  subjects,  which  contain  all 
the  information  in  possession  of  this  branch  of  the  government. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner. 
Hon.  J.  THOMPSON, 

Secretary  of  the  Interior. 


List  of  papers  from  the  office  of  the  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs, 
relating  to  the  "Mountain  Meadow"  massacre  in  1857. 

1.  Letter  from  Acting  Commissioner  C.  E.  Mix,  bearing  date  of  20th 

February,  1858,  to  Hon.  W.  K.  Sebastian. 

2.  Letter  from  W.   C.   Mitchell  to   Hon.   W.   K.   Sebastian,   dated 

December  31,  1857. 

3.  Letter  from  Acting  Commissioner  Charles  E.  Mix,  dated  March  4, 

1858,  to  J.  Forney,   Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,   Utah 
Territory. 

4.  Letter  from  Acting  Commissioner  C.  E.  Mix,  dated  March  4,  1858r 

to  Thomas  J.  Henley,  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  Cali 
fornia. 

5.  Letter  from  J.  Forney,  superintendent,  &c.,  to  C.  E.  Mix,  Esq., 

dated  June  22,  1858,  Great  Salt  Lake  City. 

6.  Letter  from  Acting  Commissioner  C.  E.  Mix,  dated  June  8,  1858, 

to  Hon.  W.  K.  Sebastian,  United  States  Senate. 

7.  Letter  from  Acting   Commissioner   C.  E.   Mix,  dated  August  3, 

1858,  to  Hon.  W.  K.  Sebastian,  Arkansas. 

8.  Letter  from  W.  K.  Sebastian  to  Commissioner  C.  E.  Mix,  dated 

August  12,  1858. 

9.  Letter  from  Commissioner  C.  E.  Mix  to  Hon.  W.  K.  Sebastian, 

dated  September  1,  1858. 

10.  Letter  from  Hon.  W.  K.  Sebastian  to  Commissioner  C.  E.  Mix, 

dated  September  11,  1858. 

11.  Letter  from   Hon.   W.   K.   Sebastian   to  Commissioner  Denver  ^ 

January  21,  1859. 


40  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN    MEADOWS. 

12.  Letter  from  J.  Forney  to  Commissioner  Denver,  dated  January 

28,  1859. 

13.  Letter  from  J.  Forney  to  Commissioner  Denver,  dated  January 

28,  1859. 

14.  Letter  from   Hon.   W.   K.   Sebastian   to  Commissioner  Denver, 

February  23,  1859. 

15.  Letter   from  Commissioner   Denver  to  Hon.   W.   K.   Sebastian, 

February  24,  1859. 

16.  Letter  from  Commissioner  Denver  to  Jacob  Forney,  superintend 

ent,  &c.,  March  3,  1859. 

IT.  Letter,  without  signature,  headed  Great  Salt  Lake  City,  dated 
March  4,  1859,  to  Commissioner  Denver. 

18.  Letter  from  J.  W.  Denver,  commissioner,  to  Michael  Delany, 

Esq.,  March  4,  1859. 

19.  Letter  from  J.  Forney  to  Commissioner  Denver,  dated  March  18, 

1859. 

20.  Letter  from  Wm.  H.  Russell  to  Acting  Commissioner  C.  E.  Mix, 

March  19,  1859. 

21.  Letter  from  Wm.  H.  Russell  to  Dr.  J.  Hobbs,  general  agent,  &c., 

March  19,  1859. 

22.  Letter  from  Acting  Commissioner  C.  E.  Mix  to  Michael  Delany_, 

Esq.,  March  19,  1859. 

23.  Letter  from  Acting  Commissioner  C.  E.  Mix  to  Jacob  Forney, 

superintendent,  &c.,  March  31,  1859. 

24.  Letter  from  Acting  Commissioner  C.  E.  Mix  to  his  Excellency 

Governor  A.  dimming,  March  31,  1859. 

25.  Letter  from  Charles  E.  Mix',  Esq.,  commissioner  ad  interim,  to  J. 

Forney,  April  7,  1859. 

26.  Letter  from  J.  Forney  to  Commissioner  C.  E.  Mix,  May  4, 1859. 

27.  Letter  from  J.  Forney  to  Commissioner  C.  E.  Mix,  May  18, 1859. 

28.  Letter  from  J.  Forney  to  Commissioner  C.  E.  Mix,  May  30,1859.' 

29.  Letter  from  Commissioner  A.  B.  Greenwood  to  J.  Forney,  June 

7,  1859. 
BO.  Letter   from   J.   Forney   to   honorable   Commissioner   of  Indian 

Affairs,  June  16,  1859. 
31.  Letter  from   J.    Forney  to   honorable    Commissioner   of  Indian 

Affairs,  June  24,  1859. 
52.  Two  letters  bearing  date  June  27, 1859 — one  from  J.  Forney,  and 

one   from   Alexander  Wilson   to   honorable   Commissioner   of 

Indian  Affairs. 

33.  Letter   from   J.    Forney   to   honorable   Commissioner   of  Indian 

Affairs,  June  29,  1859. 

34.  Letter  from  Commissioner  A.  B.  Greenwood  to  J.  Forney,  July 

2,  1859. 

35.  Letter  from  Wm.  C.  Mitchell  to  Commissioner  A.  B.  Greenwood,, 

July  5,  1859. 

36.  Letter  from  J.  Forney  to  Commissioner  A.  B.  Greenwood,  July 

15,  1859,  and  a  schedule  of  articles  for  the  use  of  the  children 
on  journey  to  Leavenworth  attached.  Signed,  Robert  B.  Jarvis, 
Indian  agent. 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  41 

37.  Letter  from  J.  Forney  to  Commissioner  A.  B.  Greenwood,  July 

22,  1859,  with  an  agreement  attached  signed  Ann  Eliza  Wor- 
ley,  and  one  signed  Hester  E.  Nash,  Sally  Squire,  and  Mrs.  E. 
Mure. 

38.  Letter  from  Commissioner  A.  B.  Greenwood  to  Wm.  C.  Mitchell, 

July  23,  1859. 

39.  Letter  from  Commissioner  A.  B.  Greenwood  to  Messrs.  Smoot, 

Kussell  &  Co.,  July  23,  1859. 

40.  Letter  from  Commissioner  A.  B.  Greenwood  to  William  C.  Mit 

chell,  July  25,  1859. 

41.  Letter  from  Commissioner  A.  B.  Greenwood  to  A.  M.  Robinson, 

July  25,  1859. 

42.  Letter  from  J.  Forney  to  Commissioner  Greenwood,  July  25,  1859. 

43.  Letter   from   Commissioner   A.  B.  Greenwood   to   Major   D.   P. 

Whiting,  United  States  army,  July  27,  1859. 

44.  Letter  from  Commissioner  A.  B.  Greenwood  to  William  C.  Mit 

chell,  July  27,  1859. 

45.  Letter  from  J.  Forney  to  Commissioner  A.  B.  Greenwood,  July 

28,  1859. 

46.  Letter  from  J.  Forney  to  Commissioner  A.  B.  Greenwood,  August 

10,  1859. 

47.  Letter  from  J.  Forney  to  Commissioner  A.  B.  Greenwood,  August, 

1859. 

48.  Letter  from  Commissioner  A.  B.  Greenwood  to  William  C.  Mit 

chell,  August  15,  1859. 

49.  Letter  from  D.  R.  Eckels  to  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  accompany 

ing  the  testimony  of  James  Lynch,  dated  August  18,  1859. 

50.  Letter  from  Stewart  Van  Vliet  to  General  T.  S.  Jesup,  Quarter 

master  General,  August  25.      [Blank  year.] 

51.  Letter  from  William  C.  Mitchell  to  Commissioner  A.  B.  Green 

wood,  August  25.     [Blank  year.] 

52.  Letter  from  Commissioner  A.  B.  Greenwood  to  J.  Forney,  Sep 

tember  1,  1859. 

53.  Letter  from  Commissioner  A.  B.  Greenwood  to  J.  Forney,  Sep 

tember  7,  1859. 

54.  Letter  from  J.  Forney  to  Commissioner  A.  B.  Greenwood,  Sep 

tember  22,  1859. 

55.  Extract  from  Superintendent  Forney's  annual   report.     [Blank 

date.] 

56.  Letter  from  W.  C.  Mitchell  to  Commissioner  Greenwood,  October 

4,  1859. 

57  Letter  from  William  C.  Mitchell,  October  4, 1859,  to  Commissioner 
Greenwood. 

58.  Letter  from  Acting  Commissioner  C.  E.  Mix  to  William  C.  Mit 

chell,  October  6,  1859. 

59.  Letter  from  J.  Forney  to   Commissioner  A.  B.  Greenwood,  No 

vember  2,  1850. 

60.  Telegraph  from  J.   Forney  to  Commissioner  A.  B.  Greenwood, 

November  30,  1859.  '**+  -; 

61.  Telegraph  from  J.   Forney  to  Commissioner  A.  B.  Greenwood, 

December  2,  1859. 


42  MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS. 

62.  Letter  from  Garland  Hurt  to  J.   Forney,   superintendent,  &c., 

December  4,  1859. 

63.  Letter  of  Commissioner  A.  B.  Greenwood  to  William  C.  Mitchell, 

December  7,  1859. 

64.  Telegraph  from  Commissioner  A.  B.  Greenwood  to  Dr.  J.  Forney, 

December  10.     [Blank  year.] 

65.  Letter  of  Commissioner  A.  B.  Greenwood  to  William  C.  Mitchell, 

December  12,  1859. 

66.  Letter  from  Commissioner  A.  B.  Greenwood  to  Major  John  Henry, 

December  13,  1859. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  February  20,  1858. 

SIR  :  In  relation  to  the  subject-matter  of  a  letter  written  to  you  by 
William  C.  Mitchell,  Esq.,  I  have  to  state  that  instructions  will  be 
sent  to  the  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs  of  California  to  dispatch 
a  special  messenger  to  San  Bernardino,  to  make  every  inquiry  and 
effort  to  get  the  children  and  maintain  them  until  the  proper  directions 
can  be  given  by  their  friends.  Similar  directions  will  be  sent  to  the 
superintendent  of  Utah. 

The  letter  of  Mr.  Mitchell  is  herewith  returned. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

C.  E.  MIX, 
Acting  Commissioner. 
Hon.  WILLIAM  K.  SEBASTIAN, 

United  States  Senate. 


DUBUQUE,  ARKANSAS,  December  31, 185*7. 

SIR  :  Two  of  my  sons  were  in  the  train  that  was  massacred,  on  their 
way  to  California,  three  hundred  miles  beyond  Salt  Lake  City,  by  the 
Indians  and  Mormons.  There  were  one  hundred  and  eighteen  unmer 
cifully  butchered  ;  the  women  and  children  were  all  killed  with  the  ex 
ception  of  fifteen  infants — one  of  sons,  Charles,  was  married  and 

had  one  son,  which  I  expect  was  saved,  and  at  this  time  is  at  San  Ber 
nardino,  I  believe  in  the  limits  of  California.  I  could  designate  my 
grandson  if  I  could  see  him.  I  expect  you  have  seen  an  account  of  the 
conduct  of  the  Mormons — Osborne  Hide,  a  Mormon,  took  the  children 
and  conveyed  them  to  San  Bernardino.  Now,  Sebastian,  if  government 
intends  to  have  the  matter  investigated,  confer  with  the  Senators  and 
Kepresentatives  from  California.  From  all  accounts  the  President  has 
not  made  a  call  sufficient  to  subdue  them ;  the  four  regiments  together 
with  what  regulars  can  be  spared  is  too  small  a  force  to  whip  the  Mor 
mons  and  Indians,  for  rest  assured  that  all  the  wild  tribes  will  fight 
for  Brigham  Young.  I  am  anxious  to  be  in  the  crowd — I  feel  that  I 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN    MEADOWS.  43 

must  have  satisfaction  for  the  inhuman  manner  in  which  they  have 
slain  my  children,  together  with  two  brothers-in-law  and  seventeen  of 
their  children.  I  see  from  the  California  paper,  which have  kindly- 
sent  me,  that  there  have  been  a  great  many  meetings  asking  the  Presi 
dent  to  chastise  the  guilty.  The  whole  train  was  from  North  Arkansas. 
Please  write  me  upon  the  reception  of  this,  if  you  have  leisure,  and 
inform  me  if  government  will  use  its  exertions  to  obtain  the  several 
children.  As  you  are  chairman  of  Indian  Affairs,  I  have  taken  the 
liberty  of  writing  to  you.  Please  show  these  few  lines  to  all  of  our 
delegation. 

I  am,  your  friend,  respectfully, 

WM.  C.  MITCHELL. 
Hon.  WM.  K.  SEBASTIAN, 

Washington  City,  I).  C. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  March  4,  1858. 

SIR  :  I  herewith  send  you  a  copy  of  a  letter,  referred  to  this  office  by 
the  honorable  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Indian  Affairs  of  the 
Senate,  from  William  C.  Mitchell,  Esq.,  giving  an  account  of  the 
massacre  of  a  train  on  its  way  to  California,  and  three  hundred  miles 
beyond  Salt  Lake  City,  said  to  have  been  perpetrated  by  Indians  and 
Mormons.  Mr.  Mitchell  also  states  that  fifteen  infants  were  spared 
and  taken  to  San  Bernardino,  by  one  Osborn  Hide,  a  Mormon,  among 
which  number  he  hopes  his  grandson  may  be  found. 

I  have  written  to  the  superintendent  in  California  to  send  a  special 
messenger  to  San  Bernardino  to  make  the  necessary  inquiry  and  effort 
to  obtain  the  children,  and  have  also  to  direct  that  you  will  instruct 
the  several  agents  in  the  Territory  of  Utah  to  make  all  inquiry  which 
may  tend  to  discover  these  children,  who  may  be  in  the  possession  and 
keeping  of  some  of  the  Indians,  and,  if  they  can  be  discovered,  to  use 
every  effort  to  get  possession  of  them ;  if  recovered,  they  must  be 
maintained  and  taken  care  of  until  they  can  be  turned  over  to  their 
friends. 

If  anything  is  heard  respecting  them,  you  will  at  once  make  report 
of  it  to  this  office. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

CHARLES  E.  MIX, 

Acting  Commissioner. 

JACOB  FORNEY,  Esq., 

Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  U.  T. 

Care  of  the  commandant  of  Fort  Laramie.     To  be  forwarded. 


44  MASSACRE    AT    MOUNTAIN    MEADOWS. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  March  4,  1858. 

SIR:  I  herewith  send  you  a  copy  of  a  letter,  referred  to  this  office  by 
the  honorable  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Indian  Affairs  of  the 
Senate,  from  William  C.  Mitchell,,  Esq.,  giving  an  account  of  the 
massacre  of  a  train  on  its  way  to  California,  and  three  hundred  miles 
beyond  Salt  Lake  City,  said  to  have  been  perpetrated  by  Indians  and 
Mormons.  Mr.  Mitchell  also  states  that  fifteen  infants  were  spared 
and.  taken  to  San  Bernardino,  by  one  Osborn  Hide,  a  Mormon,  among 
which  number  he  supposes  his  grandson  may  be. 

I  have  therefore  to  direct  that  you  will  immediately  dispatch  a 
special  messenger  to  San  Bernardino,  one  in  whose  discretion,  integrity, 
and  firmness  you  can  place  confidence,  with  instructions  to  make  every 
inquiry  which  may  lead  to  the  discovery  of  the  children,  and  to  use 
every  effort  to  get  possession  of  them;  and,  if  successful,  they  must  be 
maintained  and  well  taken  care  of  until  they  can  be  turned  over  to 
their  friends. 

You  will  make  compensation  to  the  person  employed,  and  defray  his 
expenses  out  of  any  money  in  your  hands,  having  an  eye  to  rigid 
economy,  and  make  a  report  to  this  office  whenever  you  may  be  apprised 
of  anything  touching  the  premises. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

CHARLES  E.  MIX, 

Acting  Commissioner. 

THOMAS  J.  HENLEY,  Esq., 

Superintendent,  &c.,  San  Francisco,  California. 


GREAT  SALT  LAKE  CITY, 

June  22,  1858. 

DEAR  SIR:  Your  letter  dated  March  4,  and  mailed  at  Fort  Laramie 
June  8,  was  received  yesterday,  with  a  letter  inclosed,  signed  D.  C. 
Mitchell. 

It  affords  me  great  pleasure  to  inform  you,  and  the  friends  of  the 
children  in  question  through  you,  that  I  learned  to-day  where  the 
children  are.  In  my  inquiries  about  the  children  I  met  a  gentleman 
who  lives  at  or  near  the  place  where  the  massacre  took  place.  This 
gentleman,  Mr.  Hamblin,  has  one  of  the  children,  and  informs  me  that 
all  the  children  (fifteen)  in  question  are  in  his  immediate  neighborhood, 
in  the  care  of  whites.  These  unfortunate  children  were  for  some  days 
among  Indians ;  with  considerable  effort  they  were  all  recovered,  bought 
and  otherwise,  from  Indians. 

I  stated  in  my  letter  of  last  Saturday  that  I  contemplated,  as  soon  as 
other  duties,  and  political  affairs  here,  would  permit,  to  visit  the  tribes 
in  the  southern  portion  of  this  Territory.  I  am  assured  that  all  these 
tribes  live  at  and  near  the  southern  road  to  California. 

Within  twenty  days  four  Germans,  inhabitants  of  this  Territory, 
going  south,  were  murdered  about  eighty  miles  from  here  by  Indians, 
it  is  supposed.  I  have  met  since  in  this  valley  persons  who  have 


MASSACRE    AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  45 

traveled  over  the  southern  route ;  they  all  inform  me  the  Indians  are 
troublesome.  I  am  importuned  hy  many  to  visit  the  southern  Indians. 
They  are  quite  numerous,  it  is  said.  It  is  four  hundred  miles  or  more 
to  the  furthest  Indian  settlement  on  this  route,  and  three  hundred  to 
where  the  children  are.  I  will  bring  them  here  on  my  return.  I  can 
be  ready  to  start  on  this  southern  trip  in  four  weeks.  I  intend  to 
undertake  it  without  any  special  escort,  with  only  the  persons  necessary 
to  drive  the  several  teams  I  may  need,  with  a  guide  and  interpreter. 

I  will  locate  Agent  Craig,  for  the  present,  at  or  near  Fort  Bridger, 
with  directions  to  examine  the  several  small  valleys  and  streams 
running  into  Green  river,  with  a  prospective  view  of  locating  for  agri 
cultural  purposes  the  Snake  tribe,  under  chief  Wash- A-Kee.  Mr.  Craig 
has  not  relieved  Mr.  Armstrong  yet;  this  is  in  consequence  of  his 
obnoxiousness  to  these  people,  he  (Craig)  being  afraid  to  visit  Mr. 
Armstrong  at  Provo  until  I  can  go  with  him,  which  will  be  in  a  few  days. 

Agent  Hurt  has  not  arrived  from  Fort  Bridger,  and,  I  am  told,  will 
not  come  unless  with  the  army.  These  fears  are  imaginary;  I  have 
never  been  treated  kinder  than  by  these  people.  Dr.  Hurt  informed 
me,  before  I  left  Fort  Bridger,  that  in  consequence  of  bad  health  he 
was  desirous  of  going  home  at  the  expiration  of  his  commission,  which 
is  in  August,  I  believe.  His  reappointment,  if  he  should  even  desire 
it,  is  not,  in  my  opinion,  for  the  interest  of  the  Indian  department 
here,  as  will  be  manifest,  after  a  full  investigation  of  the  condition  of 
affairs  of  the  Indian  farms. 

I  have  now  seen  all  the  Indian  officials  in  this  Territory ;  talked  more 
or  less  with  all;  also  seen  considerable  of  the  Indians,  and  am  forced 
to  the  conclusion  that  Indian  affairs  in  this  Territory  are  in  such  a 
mixed  and  conflicting  condition,  that  the  future  policy  can  only  be 
determined  after  visiting  the  tribes  and  ascertaining  their  condition 
and  locality,  and  a  further  investigation  of  what  is  pretended  to  be  the 
present  policy — if  it  is  possible  to  get  at  what  the  present  or  former  plan 
is  pretended  to  be.  I  am  forced  to  the  conclusion  that  heretofore  every 
Indian  official  had  his  own  platform.  No  concert  of  action.  This 
mixed  and  entangled  state  of  affairs  in  Indian  matters  has  proved 
manifestly  detrimental  to  the  true  interest  of  the  government  and  the 
Indians.  Some  attention  has  been  given  to  a  few  tribes ;  these  I  have 
seen,  without  any  visible  improvement  in  any  respect. 

I  do  not  wish  to  advise  the  department  in  relation  to  the  appointment 
of  agents.  You  will,  I  sincerely  hope,  pardon  me,  for  giving  my 
honest  opinion.  I  said  to  you,  in  some  of  my  previous  letters,  that  I 
was  fully  determined  on  visiting  every  tribe,,  if  at  all  in  my  power, 
before  next  January ;  this  I  could  have  accomplished  had  it  not  been 
for  the  disturbance  here.  After  ascertaining  the  locality,  condition, 
and  number,  and  character  of  the  country,  I  will  be  better  able  to  tell 
where  and  how  many  agents,  or  sub-agents,  will  be  required.  Where- 
ever  I  see  a  necessity  to  have  some  one  to  attend  to  one  or  more  tribes, 
permit  me  to  appoint  temporarily  some  good  person  living  in  the 
neighborhood  of  such  tribe. 

I  remain,  truly  and  respectfully,  yours,  &c., 

J.  FORNEY, 
Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs. 

CHARLES  E.  Mix,  Esq. 


4G  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  June  8,  1858. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of 
the  5th  instant,  requesting  that  copies  of  the  papers  relating  to  certain 
surviving  children  of  the  party  massacred  during  the  past  summer,  by 
the  Indians  or  Mormons,  may  be  furnished  to  the  War  Department, 
and  to  say,  that  your  request  shall  be  complied  with. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

CHARLES  E.  MIX, 

Acting  Commissioner. 
Hon.  W.  K.  SEBASTIAN, 

United  States  Senate. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  August  3,  1858. 

SIR:  Referring  to  a  letter  from  you  of  the  20th  of  last  February,  in 
closing  one  from  W.  C.  Mitchell,  Esq.,  of  Dubuque,  Arkansas,  dated 
December  31,  1857,  in  relation  to  the  massacre  of  the  greater  portion 
of  a  train  of  emigrants  on  their  way  from  Arkansas  to  California,  in 
which  he  states  the  probability  of  the  safety  of  fifteen  of  the  children,  I 
have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  a  letter  has  been  received  at  this 
office  from  the  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  Utah  Territory,  giving 
information  of  the  whereabouts  of  the  survivors. 

For  the  better  information  of  yourself  and  Mr.  Mitchell,  I  herewith 
transmit  extracts  from  Superintendent  Forney's  letter  upon  the  subject. 
I  will  heartily  cooperate  with  you  in  carrying  out  any  suggestions 
made  by  you,  with  regard  to  the  future  disposition  of  these  children. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

CHARLES  E.  MIX, 

Commissioner . 
Hon.  W.  K.  SEBASTIAN, 

Helena,  Arkansas. 


HELENA,  ARKANSAS,  August  12,  1858. 

SIR  :  Yours  of  3d  instant,  covering  extracts  from  letter  of  superin 
tendent  of  Indian  affairs  for  Utah,  of  date  June  22,  was  received  this 
day.  I  have  dispatched  them  to  Hon.  W.  C.  Mitchell,  Dubuque, 
Arkansas,  who  feels  a  lively  interest  in  these  children,  and  who  was 
grandfather  to  many  of  them.  I  have  requested  him  to  furnish  me, 
without  delay,  a  list  of  the  names  and  ages  of  the  children,  that  they 
may  be  identified  and  restored.  As  most,  if  not  all,  of  them  belong 
to  families  emigrating  from  Marion  and  adjoining  counties  in  Arkan 
sas,  I  suggest  that  they  be  delivered  at  Fort  Smith  or  Fort  Leaven- 
worth,  points  convenient  to  their  friends  in  Arkansas,  and  to  which 
the  troops  returning  from  Utah  could  furnish  the  escort.  Let  me  ask 


MASSACRE   AT  MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  47 

you  to  lose  no  time  in  making  the  necessary  dispositions  for  this  pur 
pose,  in  order  to  its  accomplishment  before  the  approaching  winter 
shall  render  it  impracticable  during  the  present  year. 
Very  respectfully, 

W.  K.  SEBASTIAN. 
CHARLES  E.  Mix, 

Commissioner  Indian  Affairs,  Washington  City. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  September  1,  1858. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of 
the  12th  ultimo,  in  reference  to  the  children  rescued  from  the  massacre 
on  the  plains,  and  reported  by  Superintendent  Forney  to  be  in  Utah 
Territory. 

I  have  delayed  action  in  the  matter,  hoping  daily  to  receive  the  list 
of  names  referred  to  in  your  letter,  so  that  there  may  be  no  mistake  as 
to  the  identity  of  the  parties. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

CHAELES  E.  MIX, 

Commissioner . 
Hon.  W.  K.  SEBASTIAN, 

Helena,  Arkansas. 


HELENA,  September  11,  1858. 

SIR:  Yours  of  September  1,  respecting  the  list  of  the  children  lost 
and  recovered  from  the  Indians,  is  at  hand.  I  have  just  received  from 
Colonel  William  C.  Mitchell,  Dubuque,  Arkansas,  a  letter,  in  which 
he  says  :  "  My  little  grandson  is  three  months  old  this  month.  My 
two  brothers-in-law,  L.  D.  and  Jesse  Dunlap,  each  had  two  little 
daughters,  under  six  years  old.  George  Baker  (or  Boker)  had  two 
daughters,  under  six.  Mr.  Jones  had  one  or  two  ;  Alexander  Fancher 

had ." 

These  are  the  names  of  families  all  of  whom  were  from  the  vicinity 
or  adjoining  counties  to  that  (Marion)  in  which  Colonel  Mitchell 
resides,  and  have  relatives  living  there.  He  prefers,  as  a  matter  of 
convenience,  that  they  should  be  delivered  at  Fort  Smith,  (s&y  care  of 
Colonel  Rector,  superintendent.) 

Respectftillv, 

W.  K.  SEBASTIAN. 
Hon.  C.  E.  Mix, 

Commissioner  Indian  Affairs. 


48  MASSACRE   AT    MOUNTAIN    MEADOWS. 

UNITED  STATES  SENATE, 

January  21,  1859. 

SIR:  I  herewith  return- you  the  original  correspondence  respecting 
the  children  of  the  emigrants  massacred  upon  the  plains,  lately  dis 
covered  hy  the  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs  for  Utah  Territory. 
Among  the  letters,  I  respectfully  call  your  attention  to  my  letter  of 
September  11^  1858,  on  file,  which  gives  all  the  information  which  I 
have  as  to  the  names  of  the  children.  I  suppose  the  information  is 
amply  sufficient  to  identify  the  children.  It  must  be  remembered  that 
all  that  train  was  from  Marion  county  and  adjoining  counties.  They 
can  be  brought  to  Fort  Smith,  in  Arkansas,  when  they  can  be  identified 
and  reclaimed. 

Kespectfully, 

W.  K.  SEBASTIAN. 
Hon.  J.  W.  DENVER, 

Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs. 


EXECUTIVE  OFFICE,  UTAH, 
Great  Salt  Lake  City,  January  28,  1859. 

SIR  :  A  few  weeks  after  my  arrival  in  this  city  I  received  a  letter 
from  the  Hon.  C.  E.  Mix,  requesting  me  to  make  inquiry  about  and 
recover  certain  children,  which  belonged  to  the  Arkansas  emigrants, 
and  supposed  to  be  living  among  whites  and  Indians.  Ten  of  these 
children  I  recovered  within  a  month  after  the  reception  of  the  letter, 
and  seven  more  since  ;  in  all,  seventeen.  This  is,  I  think,  all  that  were 
saved  from  the  terrible  massacre  at  or  near  Mountain  Meadows,  in  Sep 
tember,  1857.  I  had  these  children  placed  in  the  care  of  a  respectable 
family  at  Santa  Clara,  300  miles  south  of  this,  and  am  paying  their 
board,  and  have  furnished  them  clothing.  Several  of  them  know 
their  family  names.  They  are  from  four  to  seven  years  old. 

You  will  learn,  in  another  letter  of  this  date,  of  my  purpose  to  start 
south  in  a  few  days.  It  is  my  intention,  on  my  return  from  visiting 
the  southern  Indians,  to  bring  the  said  children  to  this  city  or  neigh 
borhood,  arid  confidently  depend  on  your  kindness  for  permission,  next 
April  or  May,  to  take  them  to  Washington,  or  wherever  directed. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  FOKNEY, 
Superintendent  Indian  Affairs. 

Hon.  JAMES  DENVER, 

Commissioner j  &c. 


EXECUTIVE  OFFICE,  UTAH, 
Great  Salt  Lake  City,  January  28,  1859. 

SIR:  For  reasons  that  will  appear  in  the  progress  of  this  letter,  I 
respectfully  ask  for  leave  of  absence  from  the  Territory  for  several 
months,  after  the  first  of  next  April  or  May. 


MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS.  49 

With  the  leave  of  absence  I  desire  permission  to  take  certain  children 
(of  which  I  speak  in  another  letter)  to  Washington  or  elsewhere,  in 
compliance  with  directions  from  the  department. 

For  moral  arid  social  considerations,  it  is,  in  my  opinion,  important 
that  these  children  should  he  removed  to  their  friends  without  delay. 

Another  reason  for  desiring  to  go  east  this  spring  is,  that  within  the 
next  two  months  I  will  have'  seen  the  tribes  not  already  seen,  and 
would  then  be  pleased  to  have  an  interview  with  you. 

The  last  and  very  important  reason  for  desiring  leave  of  absence  for 
a  few  months  is,  that  in  September,  185*7,  I  left  my  family  very  sud 
denly,  and  am,  of  course,  anxious  to  see  them.  I  also  left  some  im 
portant  private  business  in  an  unsettled  condition,  on  account  of  being 
obliged  to  leave  immediately  after  my  appointment. 

My  friend  Governor  Gumming  permits  me  to  say  to  you  that  my 
official  business  will  receive  his  special  attention  during  my  absence. 
Should  a  contingency  arise,  not  at  present  anticipated,  to  call  the 
governor  away,  I  would  of  course  not  leave. 

Should  I  be  so  fortunate  as  to  get  my  official  business  satisfactorily 
arranged,  so  as  to  justify  me  to  absent  myself  two  and  a  half  or  three 
months  without  detriment  to  the  public  service,  and  with  the  consent 
and  permission  of  the  department,  I  will  endeavor  to  leave  on  or  be 
fore  the  first  of  May,  especially  as  the  Indians  are  less  troublesome 
in  summer  than  at  any  other  part  of  the  year. 

I  respectfully  request  your  early  attention  to  the  subject  of  this 
letter. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  FORNEY, 
Superintendent  Indian  Affairs. 

Hon.  J.  W.  DENVER, 

Commissioner  Indian  Affairs,  Washington,  D.  C. 


UNITED  STATES  SENATE, 

February  23,  185T. 

SIR:  I  have  the  honor  to  call  your  attention  to  the  subject  of  the 
amount  of  money  necessary  to  defray  the  expense  of  bringing  home  the 
children  who  were  rescued  from  the  massacre  of  the  emigrant  train 
from  Arkansas  in  the  fall  of  1857  by  the  Mormons  or  Indians,  and  re 
quest  that  you  make  an  estimate  of  the  probable  cost  of  the  same  and 
transmit  it  to  me  at  your  earliest  convenience. 
Respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  K.  SEBASTIAN, 
Chairman  Committee  Indian  Affairs. 

By     L.  B.  DUNN,  Clerk. 
Hon.  J.  W.  DENVER, 

Commissioner  Indian  Affairs,  Washington  City,  D.  C. 

Ex.  Doc.  42 4 


50  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  February  24,  1859. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of 
the  23d  instant,  requesting  me  to  furnish  an  estimate  of  the  amount 
necessary  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  children  (being  seventeen  in 
number,  from  the  last  information)  who*were  rescued  from  the  Indians 
after  the  massacre  of  the  emigrant  train  from  Arkansas  in  the  fall  of 
1857  to  their  homes  in  Arkansas. 

In  reply  I  have  to  state  that,  after  making  all  the  necessary  in 
quiries  in  relation  to  the  matter,  that  it  will  take  at  least  ten  thousand 
dollars  to  carry  out  effectually  your  wishes  with  regard  to  the  children. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  W.  DENVER, 

Commissioner. 
Hon.  W.  K.  SEBASTIAN, 

United  States  Senate. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  March  3,  1859. 

SIR:  I  have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the  28th  of 
January,  stating  that  you  had  succeeded  in  recovering  the  children, 
who  survived,  to  the  number  of  seventeen,  the  massacre  of  the  emigrant 
train  from  Arkansas  in  1857",  whom  you  would  take  to  Salt  Lake,  and 
ask  permission  to  bring  them  on  in  April  or  May  next;  to  which  I 
would  reply  that  arrangements  have  been  made  for  Mr.  Michael  Delany 
of  this  office  who  will  on  the  5th  of  this  month  proceed  by  the  way  of 
San  Francisco  and  Placerville  in  California  to  Salt  Lake,  to  take  charge, 
of  the  children  and  convey  them  to  Fort  Smith  in  Arkansas,  to  be  de 
livered  there  by  Superintendent  Rector  to  their  friends  and  relatives. 

You  will  therefore  turn  the  children  over  to  Mr.  Delany  upon  his 
application  for  them,  and  render  him  such  aid  and  advice  in  facilitating 
his  mission  as  may  be  in  your  power. 

And  as  this  arrangement  will  obviate  the  necessity  of  your  coming 
on,  it  is  advisable  that  you  should  not  leave  the  Territory  as  you  have 
requested  permission  to  do. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  W.  DENVER, 

Commissioner. 
JACOB  FORNEY,  Esq., 

Superintendent,  &c.,  Great  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah  Territory. 


SUPERINTENDENT'S  OFFICE,  UTAH, 
Great  Salt  Lake  City,  March  4,  1859. 

SIR:  In  my  application  several  weeks  ago,  for  permission  to  leave 
the  Territory  a  few  months,  I  stated  that  I  would  of  course  not  leave 
unless  his  excellency  Governor  Gumming  remained.  The  governor 


MASSACRE   AT    MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  51 

informed  me  within  a  few  days,  that  he  would  not  leave  here  this  sea 
son,  and  authorizes  me  to  say  to  you,  that  he  will  cheerfully  direct  my 
official  husinesss  during  my  absence. 

I  consequently,  earnestly  renew  my  application  for  permission  t6 
leave  the  Territory  for  several  months. 

I  expect  to  return  from  my  southern  trip  by  the  middle  of  April, 
with  the  seventeen  children,  and  am  anxious  to  leave  soon  after,  with 
them  for  Washington,  or  wherever  directed  by  the  department. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Superintendent  Indian  Affairs. 
Hon  J.  W.  DENVER, 

Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  Washington,  D.  C. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  March  4,  1859. 

SIR:  In  a  bill  making  appropriations  for  the  army,  the  sum  of 
$10,000  has  been  appropriated  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  recovery 
and  restoration  of  the  children  who  survived  the  massacre  of  an  emi 
grant  train  from  the  State  of  Arkansas,  in  the  year  1857  ;  and  under 
standing  from  Jacob  Forney,  superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs  in  the 
Territory  of  Utah,  that  he  has  succeeded  in  recovering  all  of  the 
children  who  survived,  to  the  number  of  seventeen,  whom  he  has  by 
this  time  taken  to  Salt  Lake  City  or  its  vicinity,  and  being  desirous 
that  these  unfortunate  little  beings  may  be  restored  to  their  relatives 
and  friends  at  the  earliest  period  possible,  I  have,  from  the  special 
confidence  which  I  repose  in  your  energy,  zeal,  activity,  and  humanity, 
selected  you  to  carry  these  views  into  effect,  and  you  are  hereby  de 
tailed  for  that  purpose. 

You  will,  therefore,  if  you  are  disposed  to  accept  the  trust,  make  all 
arrangements  to  start  upon  your  mission  at  once.  It  being,  I  may 
say,  almost  impracticable  to  reach  Salt  Lake  by  the  overland  route  in 
time  to  return  at  the  season  most  congenial  to  the  comfort  of  your 
little  charges,  you  will  proceed  hence  first  to  San  Francisco,  in  Cali 
fornia  ;  thence  by  Placerville,  in  that  State,  to  Salt  Lake.  Upon 
reaching  the  last-mentioned  point,  you  will  confer  with  Mr.  Forney, 
and  upon  showing  him  these  instructions,  he  will  give  you  such  ad-  . 
vice  and  assistance  as  may  be  in  his  power,  inform  you  where  the 
children  are  stationed,  and  place  them  in  your  charge,  to  be  taken  to 
Fort  Smith,  in  Arkansas.  For  the  purpose  of  conveying  them  to  that 
point  across  the  plains,  you  are  authorized  and  empowered  to  purchase 
suitable  and  commodious  vehicles  and  teams,  and  to  hire  drivers.  In 
these  arrangements,  and  in  all  what  you  may  do  in  the  premises,  you 
will  have  an  eye  to  the  strictest  economy,  not  losing  sight,  however, 
of  the  wants  and  comforts  of  persons  of  such  very  tender  years,  as  some 
of  them  are  represented  to  be. 

Upon  reaching  Fort  Smith,  you  will  turn  them  over  to  the  care  of 
Elias  Rector,  superintendent  of  the  southern  superintendency,  who 
will  be  instructed  to  adopt  measures  for  their  restoration  to  their 


52  MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS. 

friends  ;  and  then  make  sale  of  the  vehicles  and  teams  upon  the  most 
advantageous  terms,  either  publicly  or  privately,  as  in  your  judgment 
may  seem  most  advisable. 

To  the  mode  of  transportation  mentioned  above,  I  do  not  mean 
strictly  to  confine  you  ;  for,  if  you  should  be  of  opinion,  upon  reaching 
the  city  of  Salt  Lake,  and  upon  investigation,  that  a  more  comfortable 
and  better  arrangement  than  the  one  suggested  can  be  made  with  the 
mail  contractors  or  other  parties  for  transportation,  it  is  left  to  your 
discretion  to  make  such  arrangement.  And  as  the  coaches  of  the  mail 
contractors  run  only  so  far  as  St.  Joseph,  you  will  have,  if  you  make 
an  arrangement  with  them,  to  proceed  thence  by  the  usual  mode  of 
public  travel  to  Fort  Smith,  which  may  be  cheaper  even  if  you  adopt 
anv  other  means  of  transportation. 

In  all  the  expenditures  made  of  the  money  which  will  ^be  placed  in 
your  hands,  you  must  wherever  practicable  take  vouchers,  and  where 
not  practicable,  you  must  preserve  memoranda  of  the  items  to  be  cer 
tified  on  honor  that  they  were  actually  paid  and  necessary. 

You  will  be  allowed,  while  engaged  on  this  duty,  in  commutation 
of  your  personal  expenses  ten  cents  per  mile  for  travel,  and  five  dollars 
per  diem  when  stationary. 

As  the  duties  imposed  will  be  of  great  responsibility,  and  much  care 
and  attention  required,  more  in  fact  than  can  be  rendered  by  any  one 
individual,  you  are  authorized  to  select  one  other  person  in  whom  you 
may  have  confidence  and  reliance,  to  aid  and  assist  you,  whose  com 
pensation  is  not  to  exceed  the  rate  of  $1,400  per  annum,  and  to  defray 
whose  expenses  the  same  mileage,  and  per  diem  will  be  allowed  as  is 
given  to  yourself. 

As  an  advance,  a  requisition  has  been  issued  in  your  favor  for  $1,200, 
for  which  you  will  be  held  accountable  under  the  head  of  "  Expenses 
for  ransoming  prisoners  from  Indian  tribes." 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  W.  DENVER, 

Commissioner. 

MICHAEL  DELANEY,  Esq.,  Present. 


PROVO  CITY,  U.  T.,  March  18,  1859. 

SIR:  I  left  Salt  Lake  City  last  Sunday  to  visit  the  southern  Indians, 
and  to  bring  the  seventeen  children,  remaining  from  the  massacre  in 
September,  1857,  to  Salt  Lake  City,  or  adjacent  to  it. 

I  have  been  detained  here  to  give  evidence  before  the  grand  jury  of 
the  United  States  district  court,  in  relation  to  the  murder  of  several 
white  persons  last  June  and  October,  and  also  of  the  Mountain  Meadow 
affair,  all  within  the  jurisdiction  of  this  court. 

I  am  in  possession  of  the  facts  of  the  murders  in  June  and  October, 
and  have,  within  twenty  days,  received  highly  important  and  reliable 
information  of  the  Mountain  Meadow  butchering  affair.  With  the  facts 
in  my  possession  now,  I  may  succeed  in  recovering  some  of  the 
property.  Facts  in  my  possession  warrant  me  in  estimating  that  there 


MASSACRE    AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  53 

was  distributed  a  few  days  after  the  massacre,  among  the  leading 
church  dignitaries,  $30,000  worth  of  property.  It  is  presumable  they 
also  had  some  money. 

I  will  make  such  inquiry  about  this  extraordinary  affair  as  con 
tingent  circumstances  will  admit.  I  know  that  the  Indians  are  bad 
enough ;  I  am  aware,  also,  that  it  is,  and  especially  has  been,  exceed 
ingly  convenient  to  implicate  the  Indians  in  all  such  cases. 

It  was  my  intention  to  have  started  several  weeks  ago,  but  the 
unexpected  and  unusual  quantity  of  snow  during  February  made  an 
earlier  start  impracticable.  In  my  letter,  in  which  I  speak  of  the 
necessity  and  my  purpose  of  going  south,  I  alluded  to  the  Indians  in 
the  extreme  southern  part  of  the  Territory.  I  hinted  at  the  probability 
that  the  public  interest  may  require  a  small  military  force  somewhere 
in  the  southern  extremity  of  the  Territory  to  protect  travelers  and 
emigration. 

Very  few  days  after  writing  the  letter  above  alluded  to,  the  public 
interest  required  me  to  visit  a  band  of  the  Goo-sho-utes,  about  60  miles 
west,  and  some  of  the  Shoshonees,  over  100  miles  north. 

During  my  absence  from  Salt  Lake  City,  the  governor  received 
additional  information,  mainly  through  my  office,  of  suspected  hostile 
designs  among  the  extreme  southern  Indians,  and  immediately  made 
a  requisition  for  a  small  military  detachment  to  be  stationed  at  the 
most  eligible  points  for  the  safety  of  travelers,  &c. 

The  governor,  very  properly,  I  think,  made  public  the  fact  that  an 
efficient  military  force  would  be  sent  south,  and  that  I  would  visit  the 
southern  Indians  in  advance  of  the  military  command. 

I  am  anxious  to  proceed  on  my  journey  south  as  speedily  as  circum 
stances  will  permit.  The  roads  are  still  bad,  and  I  must  also  stop  a 
few  days  at  the  different  Indian  farms. 

I  will  leave  this  to-morrow  morning  for  the  Spanish  Fork  reservation. 

I  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  FORNEY, 
Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  U.  T. 

Hon.  J.  W.  DENVER, 

Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  Washington,  D.  C. 


MARCH  19,  1859. 

SIR:  I  herewith  inclose  a  letter  to  our  general  agent,  Dr.  J.  Hobbs, 
(now  at  Camp  Floyd,  Utah,)  which  you  can  forward  and  use  as  you 
may  think  best. 

Respectfully. 

WM.  H.  RUSSELL. 
Mr.  CHARLES  E.  Mix, 

Acting  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs. 


54  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 


WASHINGTON,  March  19,  1859. 

SIR:  The  Indian  Department  is  commissioned  to  collect  and  return 
home  a  number  of  children  in  Utah,  whose  parents  were  massacred 
some  years  since  while  emigrating  West.  I  have  agreed  to  furnish  the 
department  two  wagons  and  covers,  twelve  yoke  of  cattle,  yokes  and 
chains,  with  which  to  transport  them  to  the  States.  You  will  turn 
them  over  to  Superintendent  Forney,  or  such  person  as  the  department 
may  request,  taking  a  receipt  for  the  safe  delivery  of  the  property  at 
Leavenworth  in  like  condition  as  received.  Should  Mr.  Forney,  or 
other  person  authorized,  request  it,  you  will  place  the  two  teams  under 
conduct  of  some  one  of  our  returning  caravans,  and  explain  to  the 
conductor  that  with  us  it  is  a  matter  of  great  importance  that  all 
attention  and  care  be  paid  to  the  children,  and  those  who  may  be  in 
charge  of  them ;  if  ladies,  they  should  command  the  highest  respect. 
You  will  give  such  directions  that  if  anything  is  required  on  the  road 
to  the  States  it  will  be  furnished  at  our  stations,  or  by  our  outward- 
bound  trains,  if  the  same  can  be  spared  without  retarding  the  trains. 
We  esteem  this  an  act  of  humanity,  and  know  that  you  will  do  all  in 
your  power  to  forward  the  wishes  of  the  department. 

Very  respectfully, 

WILLIAM  H.  KUSSELL, 
Of  RUSSELL,  MAJORS  &  WADDELL. 

Dr.  J.  HOBBS, 

General  Agent,  Utah. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  A/airs,  MarcJi  19,  1859. 

SIR:  Since  your  departure  from  this  city  upon  the  business  connected 
with  the  restoration  of  the  children  who  were  made  captive  in  Utah 
when  the  emigrant  train  was  massacred  in  1857,  propositions  have 
been  made  to  the  department  for  their  transportation  from  Salt  Lake 
City  as  far  as  Fort  Leavenworth,  either  of  which,  in  its  opinion,  would 
be  more  economical,  and  more  conducive  to  the  health  and  comfort  of 
the  children,  than  as  proposed  in  the  programme  laid  out  in  your 
instructions  of  the  4th  instant ;  and  it  having  adopted  one  of  these 
propositions,  and  inasmuch  as  the  carrying  of  that  into  effect  would 
consume  more  time  than  was  anticipated  as  requisite  to  carry  out  the 
original  design,  and  as  your  services  for  so  great  a  length  of  time  could 
not  be  spared  from  your  duties  here,  I  am  instructed  by  the  Secretary 
of  the  Interior  to  direct  that  you  and  your  associate,  Mr.  Benjamin 
Smith,  will,  upon  the  reception  of  this,  immediately  return  to  your 
posts  in  this  office. 

The  department  will  make  arrangements  for  the  transportation  by 
water  of  the  children  from  Fort  Leavenworth  to  Fort  Smith. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

CHARLES  E.  MIX, 

Acting  Commissioner. 
MICHAEL  DELANY,  Esq., 

San  Francisco,  California. 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  55 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  March  31,  1859. 

SIR  :  Keferring  to  the  letter  from  this  office  to  you  of  the  3d  instant, 
wherein  you  were  informed  that  Michael  Delany,  Esq.,  had  been 
detailed  to  proceed  to  Salt  Lake,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  the  children 
who  survived  the  massacre  of  the  emigrant  train  in  1857,  to  Fort 
Smith,  in  Arkansas,  I  have  now  to  inform  you  that  a  change  has  been 
made  in  that  arrangement. 

You  will  perceive  from  the  inclosed  letter  from  William  H.  Russell, 
on  behalf  of  Russell,  Majors  &  Waddell,  to  Dr.  J.  Hobbs,  the  general 
agent  of  that  company,  that  he  has  agreed  to  furnish,  for  the  purpose 
of  transporting  these  children  from  Salt  Lake  to  Leavenworth,  free  of 
charge,  two  covered  wagons  and  twelve  yoke  of  cattle,  with  the  neces 
sary  gear,  to  be  placed  under  the  charge  of  one  of  the  conductors  of 
their  caravans,  who  is  directed  to  use  especial  care  and  diligence  in  the 
premises. 

I  have,  therefore,  to  direct  that  you  will  collect  the  children  at  the 
City  of  Salt  Lake,  as  early  as  possible,  for  the  purpose  indicated.  You 
will  provide  a  suitable  number  of  females,  not  exceeding  four,  if  such 
can  be  found,  desirous  of  returning  to  the  States,  whose  business  it  will 
be  to  give  these  little  ones  all  needful  supervision  and  attention  upon 
the  road.  You  will  also  provide  them  with  blankets,  and  such  other 
material  comforts  as,  in  your  judgment,  will  be  requisite  for  the  entire 
party.  You  will  then,  showing  Dr.  Hobbs  Mr.  Russell's  letter,  turn 
them  over  to  his  charge,  to  be  placed  by  him  with  the  conductor  who 
may  be  selected.  All  arrangements  for  their  provisions,  at  least  such 
as  can  be  made  at  starting,  must  be  seen  to  by  you ;  you  will  perceive 
that  Mr.  Russell  has  directed  anything  to  be  supplied  on  the  journey 
that  may  be  needed,  either  at  the  stations  or  by  the  trains  that  may  be 
met. 

You  will  advise  this  office,  at  the  earliest  moment  possible,  when 
they  will  probably  leave  Salt  Lake,  and  at  what  time  it  may  be  expected 
that  they  will  reach  Leavenworth ;  then  Superintendent  Rector,  who 
resides  at  Fort  Smith,  will  be  directed  to  dispatch  an  agent  to  Leaven 
worth  to  meet  the  children,  and  convey  them  to  the  first-mentioned 
point,  where  the  superintendent  himself  will  receive  them  and  take 
steps  to  have  them  turned  over  to  their  friends  and  relatives. 

You  will  make  up  your  accounts  for  the  subsistence  of  the  children 
and  their  outfit,  and  transmit  them  here;  you  will  also  make  an 
agreement  with  the  females  who  may  accompany  them  for  compensation 
for  their  services,  which  should  be  definite  in  its  character,  and  made 
with  an  eye  to  the  smallness  of  the  appropriation ;  and  the  agreement 
must  be  forwarded  here,  that  they  may  be  paid  upon  their  arrival  in 
case  they  do  not  desire  to  return. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

CHARLES  E.  MIX, 

Acting  Commissioner. 

JACOB  FORNEY,  Esq., 

Superintendent  Indian  Affairs,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 


56  MASSACRE   AT    MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  March  31,  1859. 

SIR:  I  have  the  honor  to  inclose  herein  a  communication  just  ad 
dressed  to  Superintendent  Forney,  in  regard  to  the  children  who 
survived  the  massacre  of  the  emigrant  train,  in  1857,  passing  from 
Arkansas  to  the  West.  I  also  inclose  a  copy  of  a  letter  directed  "by 
William  H.  Kussell,  Esq.,  to  Dr.  J.  Hobbs,  the  general  agent  of 
Kussell,  Majors  &  Waddell,  from  which  you  will  perceive  that  he  has 
agreed  to  furnish,  free  of  charge,  means  of  transportation  of  these  little 
ones  to  Leaven  worth. 

My  object  in  writing  to  you  is  to  request  that,  should  Superintendent 
Forney  be  absent,  you  will  kindly  see  that  the  arrangements  detailed 
in  the  letter  to  him  may  be  carried  out ;   by  doing  which,  you  will 
place  the  department  under  great  obligations  to  you. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

CHARLES  E.  MIX, 

Acting  Commissioner. 
His  Excellency  Governor  A.  GUMMING, 

Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  April  7,  1859. 

SIR:  I  have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  (without  sig 
nature)  of  the  4th  ultimo,  renewing  the  request  preferred  in  your  letter 
of  the  28th  of  January  for  permission  to  leave  your  superintendency 
for  the  purpose  of  visiting  your  family. 

As  the  reply  to  your  letter  may  not  reach  you,  I  will  briefly  refer  to- 
its  contents,  as  well  as  to  the  contents  of  another  addressed  to  you 
subsequently:  In  the  reply  of  the  3d  of  March,  you  were  informed 
that  arrangements  had  been  made  for  Mr.  Michael  Delany  to  proceed 
by  the  way  of  San  Francisco  and  Placerville,  in  California,  to  Salt 
Lake,  to  take  charge  of  the  children  who  survived  the  massacre  of  the 
emigrant  train  in  185*7,  and  convey  them  to  Fort  Smith,  in  Arkansas, 
to  be  turned  over  there  to  Superintendent  Rector,  who  would  deliver 
them  to  their  friends  and  relatives;  and,  as  that  arrangement  would 
obviate  the  necessity  of  your  coming,  it  was  advisable  that  you  should 
not  leave  the  Territory.  And,  in  my  letter  to  you  of  the  31st  ultimo, 
you  were  informed  that  a  different  arrangement  had  been  made,  by 
which  Russell,  Majors  &  Waddell  agreed  to  furnish,  free  of  charge, 
two  covered  wagons  and  twelve  yoke  of  cattle,  with  the  necessary  gear, 
to  transport  the  children  from  Salt  Lake  to  Leaven  worth,  and  which 
were  to  be  placed  under  the  charge  of  one  of  the  conductors  of  their 
caravans,  whence  they  were  to  be  taken  by  an  agent,  who  would  meet 
them  there,  to  Fort  Smith  by  water.  The  letter  of  Mr.  Russell,  on 
behalf  of  the  company,  to  his  agent  in  Utah,  Dr.  Hobbs,  was  inclosed 
to  you,  and  you  were  directed  to  place  the  children  in  his  charge,  first 
supplying  them  with  all  necessary  comforts  for  the  journey,  including 


MASSACRE   AT  MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  57 

blankets,  provisions  that  might  be  required  at  starting,  &c.;  the 
company  having  kindly  consented  to  furnish  any  supplies  that  might 
be  needed  at  the  stations  along  the  road,  or  when  meeting  their  trains 
going  out ;  and  were  also  required  to  engage  the  services  of  a  number 
of  women,  not  exceeding  four,  who  might  be  desirous  of  returning  to 
the  States,  to  attend  upon  the  little  ones  whilst  traveling ;  whom  you 
were  to  engage  at  specified  prices,  and  with  an  eye  to  the  smallness  of 
the  appropriation,  of  which  the  department  was  to  be  informed,  that 
their  wages  might  be  paid  here.  You  were  also  instructed  to  notify 
the  department  when  they  would  probably  leave  Salt  Lake,  and  when 
they  might  be  expected  to  reach  Leaven  worth,  and  to  make  up  your 
accounts  for  the  subsistence  of  the  children  and  their  outfit,  and  trans 
mit  them  here. 

As  under  this  change  of  arrangements  also,  there  exists  no  necessity 
for  your  leaving  the  Territory,  the  leave  of  absence  desired  by  you 
cannot  be  granted. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

CHARLES  E.  MIX, 

Commissioner  ad  interim. 

JACOB  FORNEY,  Esq., 

Superintendent  Indian  Affairs,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 


SUPERINTENDENT'S  OFFICE,  UTAH, 

Great  Salt  Lake  City,  May  4,  1859. 

SIR  :  I  have  just  returned  from  a  very  laborious  and  difficult  trip 
through  the  southern  portions  of  this  Territory. 

I  have  succeeded  in  recovering  sixteen  children,  and  have  them  now 
in  my  possession.  It  is  said  these  are  all  that  remain  of  probably 
one  hundred  and  forty  men,  women,  and  children,  of  the  Mountain 
Meadow  massacre  in  September,  1857. 

In  December  last  there  was  a  small  boy  among  the  Navajos,  near 
the  Colorado,  in  Mexico  Territory,  who,  it  is  supposed,  also  belonged 
to  this  emigrant  train.  I  will  allude  to  this  boy  in  another  commu 
nication. 

I  was  positively  assured  by  the  settlers  in  the  neighborhood  where  I 
got  the  children,  that  I  have  all  that  were  saved.  I  have  good  reasons 
for  believing  that  none  of  these  children  have  lived  among  the  Indians 
at  all. 

These  children  average  from  about  3  to  9^  years  old ;  are  intellectual 
and  good  looking;  not  one  mean-looking  child  among  them. 

I  have  collected  the  following  particulars  in  relation  to  these 
children : 

1st.  Calvin,  now  7  or  8  years  old;  does  not  remember  his  name; 
says  they  (his  family)  lived  at  Horse-Head,  Johnston  county,  Arkan 
sas.  This  boy  had  father,  mother,  and  five  brothers,  older  than  him 
self,  killed;  brothers'  names,  Henry,  James,  William,  and  Larkin, 
and  four  sisters,  Nancy,  Mary,  and  Martha;  his  father,  Joseph," and 
his  mother,  Matilda. 


58  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 

2d  and  3d.  Ambrose  Miram  Taggit,  about  7  years  old,  and  William 
Taggit,  now  about  4^  years  old.  The  elder  boy  says  they  had  father, 
mother,  and  two  older  brothers  killed ;  he  says  they  lived  in  Johnston 
county,  and  when  they  left  the  States  had  a  grandfather  and  grand 
mother  living. 

4th.  Prudence  Angeline,  6  years  old;  and, 

5th.  Annie;  had  father,  mother,  and  two  brothers,  named  James 
and  John ;  all  killed. 

6th.  A  girl,  about  4|  years  old;  says  her  name  is  Frances  Hawn, 
or  Kern. 

7th.  A  boy,  now  three  years  old.  I  have  no  account  of  this  boy; 
those  with  whom  he  lived  called  him  William. 

8th.  Elisha  W.  Huff,  4  years ^old;  and, 

9th.  Sophrania,  or  Mary  Huff,  about  6  years  old. 

10th.  Charles  Francher,  7  or  8  years  old;  and, 

llth.  Annie,  about  3|  years  old;  had  sisters. 

12th.  Betsey,  about  6  years  old;  and, 

13th.  Jane,  about  4  years  old;  have  no  account  of  these. 

14th,  15th,  and  16th.     Kebecca,  Louisa,  and  Sarah  Dunlop. 

In  conversation  with  these  children,  I  learn  that  they  resided  in  the 
same  neighborhood ;  my  impression  is,  principally  in  Johnston  county, 
Arkansas. 

I  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  FORNEY, 
Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs. 

Hon.  C.  E.  Mix, 

Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs. 


SUPERINTENDENT'S  OFFICE,  UTAH, 

Great  Salt  Lake  City,  May  18,  1859. 

SIR:  Your  letter  of  March  31,  last,  in  relation  to  the  transporta 
tion  to  Fort  Smith  of  certain  children,  and  inclosing  a  letter  to  Dr. 
Hobbs,  was  received  by  last  mail.  Your  favor  of  7th  ultimo,  recapitu 
lating  contents  of  letter  of  31st  March,  was  also  received  by  last  mail. 

Your  directions  in  relation  to  the  transportation  of  the  children  will 
receive  my  special  attention.  A  copy  of  Mr.  Russell's  letter  was 
transmitted  to  Dr.  Hobbs,  at  Camp  Floyd.  The  request  of  Mr.  Russell 
will  be  complied  with  by  his  agents. 

I  will  endeavor  to  have  the  children  ready  in  ten  days.  There  is  no 
difficulty  in  getting  females  to  accompany  the  children. 

I  will  write  again  by  next  mail,  and  will  then  give  you  my  views  of 
the  causes,  and  the  part  the  Indians  acted  in  the  consummation  of  the 
Mountain  Meadow  affair. 

I  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  FORNEY, 
Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs  for  Utah. 

Hon.  C.  E.  Mix, 

Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  Washington,  D.  C. 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  59 


SUPERINTENDENT'S  OFFICE,  UTAH, 

Great  Salt  Lake  City,  May  30,  1859. 

SIR:  By  this  week's  mail  I  purposed  giving  you  a  full  and  correct 
account  of  the  causes,  &c.,  of  the  Mountain  Meadow  massacre,  and 
some  additional  particulars  about  the  children,  and  of  my  trip  south 
generally,  but  am  obliged  to  leave  here  in  a  few  hours  for  the  Spanish 
Fork  farm  and  reservation,  sixty-three  miles  south. 

All  the  Utah  tribe  are  now  assembled  on  this  reservation,  number 
ing  about  four  hundred.  An  express  from  there  informs  me  that  it  is 
absolutely  necessary  for  me  to  visit  there  without  delay.  About  half 
of  the  Utah  tribe  lived  last  winter  in  Uinta  valley,  one  hundred 
miles  east  of  Spanish  Fork  reservation,  the  ancient  and  favorite  resort 
of  a  portion  of  them.  I  design  that  all  the  Utahs  shall  live  on  the 
Spanish  Fork  reservation,  and  that  all  who  live  there  must  work. 
This  is  an  absolute  alternative  adopted  by  me  on  all  the  Indian  farms; 
and  it  affords  me  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  all  those  on  the  several 
farms  who  heard  my  emphatic  directions,  obey  and  labor  steadily. 
"No  work,  no  bread,"  is  my  motto  with  all  the  miserable  creatures. 

The  Uinta  fraction  of  the  Utahs  have  come  to  the  Spanish  Fork 
reservation  since  my  last  visit  there,  and  spurn  the  idea  of  work,  and 
prefer  begging  and  stealing,  and  threaten  those  Indians  who  do  work, 
and  also  to  kill  and  destroy  the  farm  property. 

This  information  is  communicated  to  me  by  ex-Agent  Hurt,  (who  is 
still  on  this  farm,)  who,  I  regret  to  say,  has  no  adequate  influence  over 
these  Indians  whatever. 

I  will  communicate  the  result  of  my  visit  by  next  week's  mail.  I 
learned  yesterday,  informally,  that  a  considerable  number  of  renegade 
Indians  (Bannacks  and  Shoshonees  of  Oregon,  with  some  few  Shosho- 
nees  belonging  to  Utah,)  are  banding  together  north  of  Bear  river  to 
make  a  descent  on  the  northern  settlements  in  Box  Elder  county,  &c., 
eighty  to  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  miles  north  of  this,  to  steal 
horses,  &c.  I  expect  to  hear  more  definitely  by  the  time  I  get  back 
from  Spanish  Fork — say  in  four  days ;  and  will,  if  necessary,  go  up 
without  delay. 

A  word  in  relation  to  the  children.  In  consequence  of  the  unusual 
lateness  of  the  spring,  and  consequent  exceeding  bad  roads,  Dr.  Hobbs, 
agent  for  Kussell  &  Co,,  deems  it  inexpedient  to  start  the  children 
until  about  three  weeks  from  this  time,  when  another  of  their  trains 
will  leave,  under  the  care  of  a  reliable  conductor,  and  thinks  it  not 
proper  to  send  two  isolated  wagons. 

I  wrote  to  him  yesterday  requesting  him  to  inform  me  sometime 
previous  of  the  precise  day  of  starting,  and  to  send  me  one  or  both 
wagons  in  order  to  fix  them  up  comfortably. 

All  your  directions  in  relation  to  the  children  will  be  strictly 
attended  to  in  every  particular ;  and  until  they  leave  they  will  remain 
in  my  possession. 

In  my  letter  of  the  4th  instant  I  said  I  had  under  my  care  sixteen 
children,  all,  it  is  supposed,  that  remain  from  the  massacre.  On  my 
way  from  the  south  with  the  sixteen  children,  when  at  Beaver  ^city, 
seventy-five  miles  east  of  Cedar  city,  where  I  received  the  three  last 


60  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 

children,  I  was  informed  by  several  Peyute  chiefs,  belonging  to  the 
band  in  Beaver  valley,  that  two  more  children  were  then  still  in  Cedar 
city — one  aged  from  fourteen  to  seventeen  years  and  the  other  from 
three  to  four.  The  Indians  insisted  on  this,  as  did  also  Kon-nosh, 
chief  of  the  Pah-vants,  who  accompanied  me  on  my  trip  south. 

At  Meadow  creek,  ten  miles  south  of  Fillmore,  I  met  a  small  mili 
tary  detachment  going  south  for  several  purposes ;  with  this  I  dis 
patched  Mr.  Eodgers  (a  reliable  gentleman)  to  Cedar  city,  with  the 
necessary  directions  to  recover  the  two  children  if  there.  I  have  not 
learned  the  result. 

I  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  FORNEY, 
Superintendent  Indian  Affairs  Utah. 

Hon.  C.  E.  Mix, 

Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  Washington,  D.  C. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 

Office  Indian  Affairs,  June  7,  1859. 

SIR:  Your  letter  of  the  4th  ultimo,  announcing  your  return  to  Great 
Salt  Lake  City  with  the  children  who  survived  the  Mountain  Meadow 
massacre,  has  been  received. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner. 
J.  FORNEY,  Esq.,  Superintendent  Indian  Affairs, 

Great  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah  Territory. 


SUPERINTENDENT'S  OFFICE,  UTAH, 

Great  Salt  Lake  City,  June  16,  1859. 

SIR  :  I  cannot  say  yet  what  day  the  children  will  be  put  en  route  for 
Leavenworth,  but  presume  within  six  to  ten  days. 

I  said  in  a  former  letter  that  I  had  obtained  only  sixteen  children, 
all,  it  was  asserted,  that  were  remaining,  or  at  least  that  could  be 
found.  I  also  said  in  my  letter  that  I  sent  express  back  with  a  certain 
military  command,  with  directions  to  make  further  search.  Another 
child  has  been  found,  thus  making  seventeen  in  all. 
I  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  FORNEY, 
Superintendent  Indian  Affairs,  U.  T. 

Hon.  COMMISSIONER  OF  INDIAN  AFFAIRS,  Washington,  D.  C. 


SUPERINTENDENT'S  OFFICE,  UTAH, 

Great  Salt  Lake  City,  June  24,  1859. 

SIR:  I  very  respectfully  solicit  your  consideration  of  the  inclosed 
correspondence. 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  61 

In  pursuance  of  the  direction  of  the  Indian  Department,  I  made  the 
preliminary  arrangements  with  Dr.  Hobbs,  general  agent  for  Messrs. 
Bussell,  Majors  &  Waddell,  to  transport  to  Leavenworth  the  children 
surviving  the  Mountain  Meadow  massacre,  by  the  mode  indicated. 
The  agent  offered  the  oxen  and  wagons,  and  informed  me  that  they 
would  travel  in  company  with  one  of  their  caravans,  which  would 
leave  about  this  time  for  Leavenworth  City. 

One  as  familiar  as  I  am  with  the  extraordinary  history  of  these 
unfortunate  children,  cannot  help  feeling  more  than  an  ordinary  de 
gree  of  interest  in  their  welfare. 

After  mature  deliberation  and  consultation  with  several  gentlemen, 
I  concluded  to  change  the  mode  of  conveying  the  children  east.  I  have 
accepted  from  General  Johnston  three  ambulances  and  one  baggage- 
wagon,  with  six  mules  to  each,  and  drivers,  instead  of  the  two  ox- 
wagons  and  being  obliged  to  travel  in  company  with  a  caravan  of 
teamsters.  I  may  also  accept  the  services  of  Major  Whiting,  who  will 
leave  for  the  States  on  leave  of  absence,  to  take  the  supervision  over 
my  party  to  Leavenworth  City.  General  Johnston  also  suggests  the 
propriety  of  obtaining  provisions  at  the  different  military  posts.  One 
company  of  dragoons  will  travel  in  company  with  the  party. 

The  ambulances  have  springs  and  are  securely  covered,,  and  are 
certainly  much  more  comfortable  than  those  large,  heavy  wagons. 
And  as  regards  time,  the  plan  adopted  will  make  a  difference  of  thirty 
to  forty  days  in  the  trip,  and  will  also  be  the  most  economical. 

I  sincerely  hope  my  course  will  meet  the  entire  approbation  of  the 
department.  Neither  the  government  nor  any  one  else  has  been  incom 
moded  by  this  change,  and  those  immediately  interested  will  be  essen 
tially  benefited. 

I  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  FORNEY, 
Superintendent  Indian  Affairs  U.  T. 

The  Hon.  COMMISSIONER  OF  INDIAN  AFFAIRS. 

Washington,  D.  C. 


^  •  '    SUPERINTENDENT'S  OFFICE,  UTAH, 

Great  Salt  Lake  City,  June  15,  1859. 

DEAR  SIR:  I  informed  you  some  time  ago  that  I  had  then  sixteen 
children  in  my  possession,  all  (it  was  then  supposed)  that  were  remain 
ing  of  the  terrible  massacre  in  Mountain  Meadow  valley,  in  September, 
1857.  Since  my  hasty  letter  to  you  from  Spanish  Fork,  another  child 
has  been  recovered  and  is  now  also  in  my  possession. 

I  have  collected  these  children  in  pursuance  of  instructions  from  the 
Indian  Department ;  and  in  compliance  with  those  instructions  they 
must  soon  be  en  route  for  Leavenworth. 

Messrs.  Russell,  Majors  &  Waddell  offered  the  Indian  Department , 
free  of  charge,  two  large  wagons,  twelve  yoke  of  oxen,  and  the  neces 
sary  gear,  to  transport  the  children  to  Leavenworth,  in  company  with 
one  of  their  returning  caravans. 


62  MASSACRE    AT    MOUNTAIN    MEADOWS. 

These  unfortunate,  fatherless,  motherless,  and  pennyless  children 
certainly  demand  more  than  an  ordinary  degree  of  sympathy.  I  have 
secured  the  services  of  four  females  to  accompany  them  to  Leavenworth. 
I  will  also  provide  suitable  clothing,  blankets,  and  such  other  appli 
ances  as  will  be  deemed  necessary.  I  am  also  directed  to  furnish  them 
with  provisions,  and,  I  presume,  cooking  utensils,  tent,  &c. 

My  instructions  from  the  office  of  Indian  affairs  plainly  indicate  the 
desire  that  I  should  send  these  children  by  the  means  of  transporta 
tion  offered  by  Messrs.  Russell,  Major  &  Waddell;  but  I  am  induced 
to  believe  that  were  the  department  advised  of  the  objections  so  obvious 
to  this  mode  of  transportation,  I  feel  satisfied  that  my  instructions 
would  have  been  materially  modified  or  changed ;  and  therefore,  after 
mature  reflection  and  consultation  with  several  gentlemen,  I  am 
induced  to  assume  the  responsibility  of  changing  the  direction  of  this 
matter,  provided  I  can  obtain  two  or  three  ambulances,  one  baggage- 
wagon,  a  suitable  number  of  mules,  and  a  proper  military  escort,  from 
the  officer  in  command  of  this  department. 

I  therefore  respectfully  request  that  you  will  advise  me  whether  this 
arrangement  can  be  made  without  subjecting  the  service  to  any  im 
portant  inconvenience. 

As  the  caravan  with  which  it  is  proposed  to  send  the  children  leaves 
in  a  few  days,  an  early  reply  is  respectfully  requested. 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  FORNEY, 
Supt.  Indian  Affairs  Utah  Territory. 

General  A.  S.  JOHNSTON, 

Com'g  Department  of  Utah,  Camp  Floyd,  U.  T. 


HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  UTAH, 

Camp  Floyd,  U.  T.,  June  16,  1859. 

SIR:  General  Johnston  desires  me  to  inform  you  that  he  will  provide 
the  escort  and  transportation  needed  for  the  children  surviving  the 
massacre  in  the  Mountain  Meadow  valley,  asked  for  in  your  letter  of 
the  15th  instant,  and  he  will  also  take  great  pleasure  in  aiding  you  to 
the  full  scope  of  his  authority,  here  and  on  the  road,  in  your  humane 
efforts  to  transmit  in  comfort  and  safety  those  children  to  Leavenworth 
City. 

The  party  will  be  escorted  by  a  company  of  dragoons  as  far  as  Fort 
Kearny,  whence  their  safety  will  be  secured  by  the  commander  at 
that  post. 

The  party  will  be  sent  for  and  placed  under  charge  of  the  escort  the 
day  before  it  marches,  which  will  be  towards  the  end  of  next  week, 
and  by  the  Timpanogos  route,  if  sufficiently  repaired.  A  day's  notice 
will  be  given  you  of  the  transportation  being  sent  to  the  city. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

F.  J.  PORTER, 
Assistant  Adjutant  General. 

Dr.  J.  FORNEY, 

Superintendent  Indian  Affairs,  Great  Salt  Lake  City. 


MASSACRE   AT    MOUNTAIN    MEADOWS.  63 


HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OP  UTAH, 

Camp  Floyd,  U.  T.,  June  17,  1859. 

SIR:  I  am  desired  to  suggest  to  you  that  your  party  of  children, 
&c.,  can  be  supplied  with  subsistence  at  the  different  posts  on  the  road 
to  Fort  Leaven  worth,  and  an  arrangement  of  that  kind  will  prevent 
the  command  being  encumbered  with  their  supplies  for  the  whole  route, 
procured  here  by  you. 

The  cost  of  the  supplies  will  be  charged  to  the  Interior  Department 
at  Washington.  If  you  desire  it,  the  commanding  officers  on  the 
route  will  be  directed  to  furnish  subsistence. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

F.  J.  POBTER, 
Assistant  Adjutant  General. 
Dr.  J.  FORNEY, 

Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs. 


SUPERINTENDENT'S  OFFICE,  UTAH, 

Great  Salt  Lake  City,  June  28,  1859. 

DEAR  SIR  :  Inasmuch  as  you  have  consented  to  take  the  supervision 
over  certain  children,  whom  I  am  sending  to  Leaven  worth  City,  in 
pursuance  to  directions  from  the  Indian  Department,  and  also  the  same 
over  the  persons  who  go  in  charge  of  them,  I  therefore  respectfully 
submit  the  following  directions : 

1.  To  exercise  general  supervision  over  the  children  and  those  in 
whose  immediate  care  they  will  travel.     To  see  that  the  children  are 
properly  fed,   with  properly  arranged  and  well-cooked  food.     They 
should  have  little  or  no  bacon  or  beans,  but  little  fresh  meat,  plenty  of 
rice,  sugar,  milk,  butter,  and  eggs  when  they  can  be  obtained.     In 
addition  to  the  rations  to  be  drawn  at  the  different  posts,  I  have  fur 
nished  for  the  party  dried  and  can  peaches,  70  pounds  of»  butter,  and 
about  100  pounds  of  butter  crackers. 

2.  There  will  be  fifteen  of  the  children  remaining  from  the  massacre 
under  your  care.     The  remaining  two  are  retained  here  to  testify  in 
the  criminal  court  against  the  supposed  murderers.     Five  females  will 
accompany  the  children:  Mrs.  Worley,  Nash,  Mure,  &c.     Four  only 
of  these  receive  wages,  but  they  are  all  equally  bound  to  work  and 
render  proper  assistance.     Mrs.  Worley  is  chief  nurse,  and  will  direct 
the  management  of  the  children  so  far  as  the  women  are  concerned. 
Three  men  will  accompany  the  children,  and  will  render  all  needful 
assistance  for  their  comfort,  getting  wood  and  water,  and  putting  up 
the  tent  or  tents,  &c. 

3.  Kobert  B.   Jarvis,,   Esq.,  ex-Indian  agent,  is  one  of  the  persons 
above  indicated,  and  has  receipted  to  me  for  the  cooking  utensils  and 
other  property,  and  will  dispose  of  it  as  directed.     Mr.    Jarvis  will 
travel  in  the  ambulances  with  the  children,  and  has  kindly  promised 
to  take  special  care  of  them.     I  have  accepted  his  offer ;   he  is,  of 
course,  subject  to  your  directions.     Mr.  Jarvis  is  a  kind-hearted,  clever 


64  MASSACRE    AT    MOUNTAIN    MEADOWS. 

gentleman,  and  will  render  every  assistance  in  his  power  both  to  you 
and  the  children. 

4.  Major  Whiting  will  meet  at  Leavenworth  City,  Superintendent 
Rector,  of  Fort  Smith,  Arkansas,  or  some  one  authorized  "by  him  to 
receive  the  children,  to  whom  you  will  turn  over  the  children. 

5.  Major  Whiting  is  authorized  hy  the  undersigned  to  discharge 
any  person  or  persons,   either  male  or  female,  who  accompany  said 
children,  if  such  refuse  to  do  their  respective  duties,  and  hire  others, 
and  give  an  account  of  said  hiring  to  Superintendent  Eector. 

6.  The  rations,  for  which  I  have  an  order  on  the  different  military 
posts  to  Leavenworth,  should  be  varied  in  quantity  to  suit  the  children 
and  women.     Very  little  bacon  and  beans  is  required,  whilst  sugar 
and  rice  should  be  used  in  proper  quantities. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  FORNEY, 

Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  U.  T. 
Major  D.  P.  WHITING. 


SUPERINTENDENT'S  OFFICE,,  UTAH, 

Great  Salt  Lake  City,  June  27,  1859. 

SIR:  I  received  this  morning  the  inclosed  communication  from  the 
United  States  attorney  general  of  this  Territory, 

My  friend,  the  attorney  general,  is  quite  sick,  but  will,  so  soon  as  he 
recovers,  institute  proceedings  against  certain  white  men  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  Territory,  who,  it  is  believed,  and  indeed,  I  know, 
are  the  guilty  parties  in  the  perpetration  of  the  unparalleled  massacre. 

By  diligent  inquiry  during  the  last  eight  months,  and  while  on  my 
late  visit  south,  and  since,  I  have  gathered  many  important  facts  in 
relation  to  the  terrible  massacre  in  September,  1857 — more  perhaps 
than  any  one  else.  I  will,  in  a  very  few  days,  (by  next  mail,)  furnish 
you  with  a  full  statement  of  all  the  material  facts  concerning  the 
massacre  in  Question. 

I  hope  to  get  the  children  started  to-morrow,  when  I  will  expect  a 
short  breathing  time  again.  The  two  boys,  which  are  retained  in  my 
possession  are,  I  judge,  about  eight  or  nine  years  old,  and  both  remark 
ably  intellectual,  and,  in  my  opinion,  competent  witnesses.  I  am 
unable  to  say  when  the  court  will  be  held  in  the  southern  portion  of 
the  Territory. 

I  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  FORNEY, 
Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs. 

Hon.  COMMISSIONER  OF  INDIAN  AFFAIRS. 


UNITED  STATES  ATTORNEY'S  OFFICE, 
Great  Salt  Lake  City,  U.  T.,  June  27,  1859. 

SIR  :  I  deem  it  important  to  the  cause  of  justice,  that  John  Calvin  Sorel 
and  Ambrose  Miram  Taggit,  being  orphans,  rescued  from  the  Mountain 


MASSACRE   AT    MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  65; 

Meadow  massacre,  should  be  detained,  and  by  you  held  subject  to  my 
order,  to  testify  in  such  legal  proceedings  as  may  be  instituted  against 
parties  charged  with  molesting  and  killing  certain  individuals,  who 
constituted  an  emigration  party  from  Salt  Lake  City  to  California,  at 
the  Mountain  Meadows,  in  this  Territory,  between  the  months  of  Au 
gust  and  October,  A.  D.  1857. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

ALEXANDER  WILSON, 
United  States  Attorney  for  Utah  Territory, 
JACOB  FORNEY, 

Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs. 


..  w 

SUPERINTENDENT'S  OFFICE,  UTAH, 
Great  Salt  Lake  City,  June  29,  1859. 

SIR:  I  succeeded  in  starting,  yesterday,  fifteen  of  the  children  that 
have  been  under  my  care.  The  other  two,  as  stated  in  my  letter  of 
yesterday,  are  retained  to  give  testimony  against  the  murderers  of  their 
parents,  &c. 

I  stated  in  a  letter  of  the  24th  instant,  that  I  had  made  some  change 
in  the  mode  of  transportation,  and  that  I  had  then  accepted  the  ambu 
lances,  mules,  &c.  Five  females  go  in  company  and  take  charge  of 
the  children ;  four  receive  pay,  but  all  are  required  to  give  them  their 
attention  in  everything  that  is  necessary  for  their  comfort.  The  in 
closed  articles  indicate  those  who  are  to  receive  pay. 

I  also  engaged  the  services  of  three  men,  who  are  with  the  children, 
and  are  required  to  do  everything  necessary,  especially  to  assist  the 
women,  put  up  the  tents,  get  wood  and  water,  and,  in  fact,  anything 
that  may  become  necessary,  and,  at  the  same  time,  are  not  to  receive 
any  pay  but  rations. 

Major  D.  P.  Whiting  is  going  East,  on  leave  of  absence,  and  is 
with  the  party  who  accompany  the  children  on  their  journey. 

Major  Whiting  has  kindly  consented  to  take  general  supervision  over 
my  whole  party ;  he  will  especially  observe  that  the  children  receive 
all  needful  attention. 

Inclosed  I  send  you  a  copy  of  my  directions  to  Major  Whiting.  A 
company  of  dragoons  escort  the  children  and  those  with  them  to  Fort 
Kearny;  from  thence  they  will  be  escorted  by  others  to  Leavenworth. 
There  are  several  other  officers  in  company,  and  going  East,  on  leave 
of  absence;  also,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Vaux,  chaplain  at  Fort  Laramie;  and 
all  will  pay  more  or  less  attention  to  those  unfortunate  children,  who 
really  demand  the  sympathy  of  all  persons  who  have  proper  feelings. 

R.  B.  Jarvis,  Esq.,  ex-Indian  agent,  is  one  of  the  three  men  above 
indicated.  Inasmuch  as  the  children  will  require  considerable  atten 
tion  in  many  respects,  and  not  being  disposed  to  encumber  Major 
Whiting  too  much,  I  requested  Mr.  Jarvis  to  render  the  major  some 
assistance,  in  addition  to  his  other  duties — to  observe  that  the  children 
got  enough  and  of  the  proper  kind  of  food. 
Ex.  Doc.  42 5 


466  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 

In  addition  to  rations  from  Camp  Floyd,  I  furnished  the  children 
Gutter,  crackers,  and  dried  and  can  peaches.  I  also  furnished  cooking 
utensils,  which  I  put  in  the  care  of  Mr.  Jarvis,  with  directions  to  have 
them  placed  in  careful  hands  at  Leaven  worth,  unless  Superintendent 
Rector  should  conclude  to  convey  the  children  to  Fort  Smith  by  land ; 
in  that  case  Mr.  Jarvis  will  turn  over  to  him  the  cooking  utensils. 

Captain  Anderson  commands  the  dragoons,  and  is  also  in  command 
•of  the  whole  party.  The  officers  alluded  to  are  Major  Eastman,  Cap 
tains  Tyler  and  Campbell,  and  Lieutenant  Ell  wood ;  they  will  reach 
Leavenworth  in  about  forty-five  days.  General  Johnston  gave  me  an 
Border  for  provisions  at  all  the  military  posts. 

Last  night  the  party  camped  twelve  miles  from  this  city.  I  went 
out  yesterday  evening  and  returned  this  morning,  and  was  pleased  to 
find  all  in  fine  spirits.  Every  child  has  three  changes,  and  some  more, 
of  clothing,  and  also  a  sufficiency  of  blankets.  It  has  been  my  con 
stant  endeavor,  since  these  children  have  been  in  my  care,  to  make 
them  comfortable  and  happy,,  and  I  have  furnished  them  with  every 
appliance  to  make  them  so  on  the  journey  to  the  States. 

I  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  FORNEY, 
Superintendent  Indian  Affairs  U.  T. 

Hon.  COMMISSIONER  OF  INDIAN  AFFAIRS. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  of  Indian  Affairs,  July  2,  1859. 

SIR:  Referring  to  previous  communications  to  you  from  this  office, 
in  regard  to  the  massacre  at  Mountain  Meadows,  in  the  fall  of  185*7,  of 
the  emigrant  train  composed  of  citizens  from  the  State  of  Arkansas, 
and  to  the  zeal  manifested  by  you  in  your  reply  for  the  detection  of  the 
persons  engaged  in  it,  I  have  now  to  direct  that  you  will  make  effort, 
consistent  with  your  position  and  official  duties,  to  discover  those  per 
sons  who  were  actively  engaged  in  or  accessory  to  it  in  any  degree. 

In  the  execution  of  this  duty,  it  is  expected  that  you  will  use  the 
outmost  diligence,  activity,  and  zeal  to  ferret  out  the  miscreants,  and  to 
^ascertain  their  names  and  locations.     I  hardly  consider  it  necessary  to 
impress  upon  you  the  importance  of  this  matter,  as  you  will  at  once 
see  tlie  great  good  which  must,  in  the  future,  result  to  the  safety  of 
our  citizens  when  it  is  known  and  felt  that  the  government  leaves  no 
means  untried  to  bring  to  merited  punishment  the  perpetrators  of  such 
monstrous  deeds.     If  success  attends  the  effort,  even  in  a  limited  de 
gree,  all  such  must  hereafter  hesitate  at  the  commission  of  such  wicked 
ness,  secure  and  secret  as  they  might  otherwise  imagine  themselves, 
from  their  remoteness,  when  they  shall  recollect  that  the  government 
is  as  watchful  to  detect,  as  it  is  powerful  to  punish. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner. 
JACOB  FORNEY,  Esq., 

Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs, 

Salt  Lake  City,  Utah  Territory. 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  67 


DUBUQUE,  ARKANSAS,  July  5,  1859. 

SIR:  I  received  yours  of  the  9th  of  last  month,  stating  that  the 
children  of  the  Mountain  Meadow  massacre  would  he  sent  to  Leaven- 
worth,  in  charge  of  Russell  &  Co.,  and  you  tendered  me  the  appoint 
ment  to  have  them  conveyed  to  some  central  point,  say  Carrollton, 
Arkansas,  in  two  two-horse  wagons.  I  willingly  accept  the  appoint 
ment,,  and  make  my  arrangements  to  go  as  soon  as  I  get  further  in 
structions,  and  likewise  procure  a  female  nurse.  It  will  be  remarkably 
warm,  but  I  expect  two  wagons  will  be  sufficient. 
I  am,  yours,  respectfully, 

WILLIAM  C.  MITCHELL. 
Hon.  A.  B.  GREENWOOD. 

P.  S. — Please  direct  your  letter  to  Crooked  Creek,  Carroll  county, 
Arkansas,  as  they  have  tri-weekly  mails  to  that  office. 

W.  C.  M. 


SUPERINTENDENT'S  OFFICE,  UTAH, 
Great  Salt  Lake  City,  July  15,  1859. 

SIR:  Inclosed  is  a  copy  of  the  list  of  cooking  appliances,,  &c.,  sent 
with  and  for  the  use  of  "the  children"  and  those  with  them.  Also  a 
copy  of  a  receipt  for  the  same  from  ex- Agent  Jarvis. 

I  requested  Mr.  Jarvis  to  leave  the  articles  at  Fort  Leaven  worth,  if 
at  all  convenient,  or  in  some  safe  hands  in  Leavenworth  City.  With 
the  permission  of  the  Indian  Department,  Washington,  he  is  directed 
to  turn  the  said  cooking  utensils  over  to  Superintendent  Rector,  pro 
viding  he  will  convey  the  children  to  Fort  Smith,  by  land. 
I  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  FORNEY, 

Superintendent  Indian  Affairs,  Utah  Territory. 
Hon.  A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs. 


Articles  for  use  of  children  on  the  journey  to  Leavemoorth. 

2  camp  kettles.  1  camp  table. 

2  tin  dippers.  2  large  tin  water-buckets. 

1  tin  lantern.  2  coffee  pots. 
20  tin  cups.  20  tin  plates. 

2  ovens,  with  lids.  3  large  tin  pans. 

\  dozen  knives  and  forks.  1  dozen  tablespoons. 

|  dozen  cups  and  saucers.  8  china  plates,  (tea  set.) 

1  tin  teapot.  2  tin  wash  basins. 

1  ax  and  handle.  1  spade. 

2  candlesticks.  1  coffee  mill. 
2  large  tin  coffee  boilers,  for  carry-       1  pepper  box. 

ing  water.  1  common  mess-chest. 

2  fry-pans.  1  tent  and  fixtures. 


68  MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS. 

Received,  at  Great  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah  Territory,  June  28,  1859, 
from  Jacob  Forney,  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs  for  Utah,  the 
above  enumerated  articles,  being  for  the  use  of  the  fifteen  children 
saved  from  the  Mountain  Meadow  massacre,  for  their  trip  from  Great 
Salt  Lake  City  to  Fort  Leavenworth.  Such  disposition  to  be  made  of 
the  above-mentioned  goods  as  shall  be  directed  by  the  letter  of  instruc 
tions  of  Superintendent  Forney  to  K.  B.  Jarvis, Esq.,  ex-Indian  agent, 
bearing  even  date  with  this  receipt. 

KOBT.  B.  JARVIS,  Indian  Agent. 


SUPERINTENDENT'S  OFFICE,,  UTAH, 

Great  Salt  Lake  City,  July  22,  1859. 

SIR:  Inclosed  I  forward  to  you  the  articles  made  with  the  several 
females,  for  compensation  for  services  to  be  performed  to  certain 
children,  now  en  route  for  Leavenworth.  The  men  are  to  receive  no 


pay. 

I 


remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  FORNEY, 

Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs  U.  T. 
Hon.  A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs. 


This  agreement,  made  this  28th  day  of  June,  A.  D.  1859,  between 
Jacob  Forney,  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs  for  Utah,  of  the  first 
part,  and  Ann  Eliza  Worley,  of  the  second  part,  all  of  Great  Salt 
Lake  City,  in  said  Territory:  Witnesseth,  that  the  said  party  of  the 
second  part  covenants  and  agrees  to  well,  faithfully,  and  diligently, 
take  care,  charge,  and  supervision,  as  head  nurse,  of  the  children 
placed  under  her  care  by  the  said  party  of  the  first  part,  while  on  the 
journey  from  Great  Salt  Lake  City  to  the  point  of  destination,  at  Fort 
Leavenworth.  In  consideration  of  which  service,  so  to  be  performed, 
the  said  Jacob  Forney  covenants  and  agrees  that  the  said  Ann  Eliza 
Worley  shall  receive,  for  said  service,  the  sum  of  twenty-five  dollars 
per  month,,  from  and  after  the  date  of -these  presents,  to  the  day  of  the 
termination  of  said  journey  at  the  point  above  designated,  inclusive. 

In  witness  whereof,  the  parties  to  these  presents  have  hereunto  set 
[L.  s.l  their  hands  and  seals,  the  day  and  year  first  above  written. 

ANN  ELIZA  WORLEY. 

In  presence  of — 

C.  E.  BOLTON. 


This  agreement,  made  this  28th  day  of  June,  A.  D.  1859,  between 
Jacob  Forney,  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs  for  Utah,  of  the  first 
partj  and  Elizabeth  Mure,  Hester  Elvira  Nash,  and  Sally  Squire,  of 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  69 

the  second  part,  all  of  Great  Salt  Lake  City,  in  said  Territory,  wit- 
nesseth,  that  the  said  parties  of  the  second  part  covenant  and  agree  to 
well,  faithfully,  and  diligently  take  care,  charge,  and  supervision,  as 
assistant  nurses,  of  the  children  placed  under  their  care  by  the  said 
party  of  the  first  part  while  on  the  journey  from  Great  Salt  Lake  City 
to  the  point  of  destination  at  Fort  Leavenworth.  In  consideration  of 
which  service,  so  to  be  performed,  the  said  parties  of  the  second  part 
shall  receive  for  said  service  the  sum  of  ten  dollars  each  per  month 
from  and  after  the  date  of  these  presents  to  the  day  of  the  termination 
of  said  journey  at  the  point  above  designated,  inclusive. 

In  witness  whereof,  the  parties  to  these  presents  have  hereunto  set 
their  hands  and  seals  the  day  and  year  first  above  written. 

HESTEK  E.  NASH. 

SALLY  SQUIRE. 

MBS.  E.  MURE. 
In  presence  of — 

C.  E.  BOLTON. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  July  23,  1859. 

SIR  :  Your  letter  of  the  5th  instant,  expressing  a  willingness  to 
accept  the  proposal  which  I  made  to  you  on  the  9th  of  June,  of  pro 
ceeding  to  Leavenworth  for  the  purpose  of  taking  charge  of,  and  re 
storing  to  their  friends  and  relatives  in  Arkansas,  the  children  who 
survived  the  massacre  at  Mountain  Meadows,  has  just  been  received. 
Although  my  previous  letters  to  you  were  unofficial,  yet  any  steps 
taken  by  you  in  pursuance  of  those  letters  will  be  sanctioned,  and  you 
are  hereby  authorized  4o  start  upon  the  mission ;  and  knowing  the 
interest  you  feel  in  the  matter,  I  need  not  urge  you  to  use  all  practi 
cable  haste  in  setting  out,  as  the  children  may  reach  that  city,  as  soon 
as  you  possibly  can. 

If,  as  I  suggested,  you  should  be  of  opinion  that  two  wagons  will 
not  be  sufficient  for  their  transportation,  having  due  regard  to  their 
health  and  comfort,  you  will  add  one  or  more,  as  your  judgment  may 
dictate,  not  losing  sight,  however,  of  all  necessary  economy. 

The  point  indicated,  that  of  Carollton,  to  which  they  may  be  taken 
for  the  convenience  of  their  friends  to  receive  them,  is,  in  my  opinion, 
quite  suitable,  and  you  will  therefore  transport  them  to  that  point.  „ 

Your  compensation  will  be  at  the  rate  of  three  dollars  per  diem  from 
the  time  that  you  may  set  out,  or  be  engaged  in  making  the  necessary 
preparation,  until  your  return,  and  for  such  time  after  your  return  as 
you  may  be  engaged  in  seeing  to  and  rendering  them  to  their  friends,, 
and  your  actual  expenses  will  be  allowed.  The  same  compensation 
will  be  given  to  the  nurse  or  nurses  whom  you  may  employ  in  their 
behalf,  and  their  expenses  will  also  be  paid.  You  will  be  careful  to 
take  vouchers  for  all  items  that  you  may  expend  where  practicable ; 
and  where  you  cannot  obtain  such,  you  will  preserve  memoranda  of 
the  items,  to  be  certified  on  honor  that  they  were  necessary  and  actu 
ally  paid,  and  forward  the  same  here,  to  be  used  in  the  settlement  of 
your  account. 


70  MASSACRE    AT    MOUNTAIN    MEADOWS. 

A  requisition  in  your  favor,  of  five  hundred  dollars,  will  be  sent  to 
the  care  of  the  hanking  house  of  Smoot,  Russell  &  Co.,  at  Leaven- 
worth,  who  will  no  doubt  at  your  request  make  arrangements  for 
cashing  the  same,  and  who  may  be  able  to  give  you  information  of  the 
time  at  which  the  children  may  be  expected  if  they  should  not  have 
arrived  by  the  time  you  reach  there,  as  Mr.  Russell,  of  that  house,  is 
connected  with  the  line  of  transportation  from  Salt  Lake  to  that  city. 
As  the  fund  appropriated  for  the  purpose  of  regaining  and  bringing 
home  these  helpless  persons  is  but  small  I  must  urge  upon  you  the 
strictest  economy,,  yet,  as  many  of  them  are  of  very  tender  years,  I  do 
not  wish  to  be  understood  as  advising  economy  at  the  expense  of  health 
and  some  degree  of  comfort ;  and  let  me  impress  upon  you  the  neces 
sity  at  this  season  of  the  year  of  paying  much  attention  to  their  diet 
and  sleeping  accommodations.  Of  course,  the  hire  of  the  teamsters 
employed  by  you,  and  the  forage  for  the  horses,  will  be  a  legitimate 
charge  to  be  made  by  you,  being  necessary  expenses. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner. 

WM.  C.  MITCHELL,  Esq., 

Crooked  Creek,  Carroll  County,  Arkansas. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  A/airs,  July  23,  1859. 

GENTLEMEN  :  I  herewith  transmit  to  your  care  a  duplicate  of  a  letter 
to  William  C.  Mitchell,  Esq.,  of  Arkansas,  who  has  been  selected  to 
take  charge,  upon  their  arrival  at  Leavenworth,  of  the  children  who 
survived  the  massacre  of  an  emigrant  train  from  that  State  at  Moun 
tain  Meadows  in  185V,  and  who  were  placed  in  charge,  at  Salt  Lake 
City,  of  Messrs.  Russell  &  Co's.  line  of  transportation,  to  be  brought 
to  Leavenworth. 

This  is  sent  to  you  for  fear  that  the  first  draft  of  the  letter  to  Mr. 
Mitchell  may  not  reach  him  before  he  leaves  his  home,  and  I  shall  be 
under  obligations  to  you  if  you  will  hunt  him  up  upon  his  arrival  and 
hand  him  the  inclosed ;  also,  for  any  facilities  that  you  may  have  it  in 
your  power  to  extend  to  him  towards  the  accomplishment  of  his. 
mission. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner. 

Messrs.  SMOOT,  RUSSELL  &  Co., 

Leavenworth  City,  Kansas  Territory. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  A/airs,  July  25,  1859. 

SIR:  Since  my  letter  to  you  of  the  23d  instant,  it  has  been  found 
necessary  to  change  the  manner  of  placing  you  in  possession  of  the 
five  hundred  dollars,  therein  specified  to  be  applied  to  the  transports- 


MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS.  71 

tion  of  the  children  from  Leavenworth  City  to  their  homes  in  Arkansas, 
and  I  have  this  day  directed  Superintendent  A.  M.  Robinson  to  remit 
to  you  at  Leavenworth,  to  the  care  of  Smoot,  Russell  &  Co.,  his  draft 
for  that  amount ;  and  upon  receiving  it  you  will  forward  your  receipt 
to  him  therefor  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri. 
Very  respectfully,  --4 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner. 
WILLIAM  C.  MITCHELL,  Esq., 

Care  of  Messrs.  /Smoot ,  Russell  &  Co.,  Leavemvorth  City, 

Kansas  Territory 


DEPARTMENT  OP  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  July  25,  1859. 

SIR:  The  Secretary  of  the  Interior  has  been  requested  to  issue 
requisition  in  your  favor  for  the  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars,  charge 
able  to  the  appropriation  for  ' c  defraying  the  expenses  of  the  recover)1*, 
and  the  restoration  to  their  homes,  of  the  children  surviving  the  mas 
sacre  by  Indians  of  the  emigrant  trains  from  Arkansas  in  the  fall  ot 
1857V '  which  is  to  be  applied  to  the  transportation  of  these  children 
from  the  city  of  Leavenworth  to  their  homes  in  Arkansas ;  and  Wil 
liam  C.  Mitchell,  Esq^  of  that  State,  has  been  selected  to  take  them 
from  tli at  point  to  their  homes.     You  will  therefore  make  a  draft  in 
favor  of  Mr.  Mitchell  for  the  above  sum,  and  forward  the  same  to  him 
at  Leavenworth  City,  to  the  care  of  Smoot,  Russell  &  Co.,  for  which 
he  has  been  directed  to  forward  you  his  receipt. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner . 
A.  M.  ROBINSON,  Esq., 

Superintendent  Indian  Affairs,  St.  Louis,  Missouri. 


SUPERINTENDENT'S  OFFICE,  UTAH, 
Great  Salt  Lake  City,  July  25,  1859. 

SIR  :  In  pursuance  to  directions  from  the  Indian  department,  I 
forward  the  accounts  of  expenses  incurred  in  recovering,  maintain 
ing,  and  finally  sending  to  Fort  Leavenworth  the  seventeen  children 
surviving  the  Mountain  Meadow  massacre,  in  September,  1857.  ^  I 
respectfully  invite  your  attention  to  Abstract  No.  1,  which  contains 
the  accounts  of  expenses  for  said  children.  I  rejected  a  number  of 
claims  against  the  goverment,  for  these  children,  for  different  alleged 
expenses.  There  were  a  number  of  claims  for  purchasing  the  children 
from  the  Indians,  by  persons  with  whom  Mr.  Hamblin  found  them; 
when  it  is  a  well-known  fact  that  they  did  not  live  among  the  Indians 
one  hour. 

I  charged  to  the  account  of  the  children  part  of  Mr.  Hamblin' s- 
wages. 


"72  MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS. 

The  amount  of  claims  presented  to  me  on  account  of  the  children, 
by  persons  in  the  southern  portion  of  Territory,  amount  to  over  seven 
ihousand  dollars,  of  which  amount  I  only  paid  twenty-nine  hundred 
and  sixty-one  dollars  and  seventy-seven  cents.  Those  I  have  paid  I 
considered  strictly  and  entirely  proper. 

Prices  for  every  thing  in  this  country  are  exorbitantly  high:  board 
ing  at  all  public  places  is  from  ten  to  fourteen  dollars  per  week; 
although  I  got  the  children  boarded  at  Santa  Clara  for  two  dollars 
and  fifty  cents  per  week,  which  is  much  less  than  I  could  get  them 
boarded  for  in  this  city.  In  short,  I  got  nothing  for  those  children 
except  what  their  health  and  comfort  required. 

The  accounts  paid  amount  to $5,425  48 

My  trip  south  to  get    the  children    and  bring  them  to 

this  city,  and  to  visit  the  Peyute  Indians,  amounted  to 

$1,030  98. 
Five  hundred  dollars  of  this  amount  should,  in  my  opinion, 

be  refunded  for  the  Indian  service  in  this  Territory 500  00 

5,925  48 


This  amount  I  will  expect  to  have  refunded  to  the  Indian  fund  for 
this  Territory. 

I  will  allude  to  the  matter  in  another  letter.* 

I  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  FORNEY, 

Superintendent  Indian  Affairs  U.  T. 
Hon.  A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  Washington,  D.  C. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  July  27,  1859. 

SIR  :  Upon  the  arrival  of  the  party  with  the  children  (survivors  of 
the  Mountain  Meadow  massacre)  at  Leavenworth  City,  you  are  re 
quested  to  turn  over  to  William  C.  Mitchell,  Esq.,  special  agent  of 
this  department,  who  is  charged  with  the  duty  of  conveying  them  to 
their  friends  in  Arkansas,  the  cooking  utensils  that  have  been  placed 
in  charge  of  Mr.  R.  B.  Jarvis  by  Superintendent  Forney,  taking  his 
receipt  therefor. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner. 
Major  D.  P.  WHITING, 

U.  S.  Army,  Leavenworth  City,  Kansas  Territory. 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  73 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  July  27,  1859. 

SIR:  Major  D.  P.  Whiting,  United  States  army,  who  has  direction 
of  the  party  composed  of  the  children  (survivors  of  the  Mountain 
Meadow  massacre)  on  their  way  to  Leavenworth  City,  has  been  this 
day  requested  to  turn  over  to  you  the  cooking  utensils  that  have  been 
placed  in  charge  of  R.  B.  Jarvis,  Esq.,  by  Superintendent  Forney  of 
Utah. 

Upon  receiving  these  articles  you  will  give  Major  Whiting  a  receipt 
therefor.     When  you  reach  Arkansas,  where  they  will  be  no  longer 
required,  you  will  dispose  of  them  to  the  best  advantage  and  credit  the 
government  with  the  amount  of  the  proceeds  of  their  sale. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner. 
WM.  C.  MITCHELL,  Esq.,, 

Care  of  Smoot,  Eussell  &  Co., 

Leavenworth  City,  Kansas  Territory. 


SUPERINTENDENT'S  OFFICE,  UTAH, 

Great  Salt  Lake  City,  July  28,  1859. 

SIR:  By  reference  to  my  financial  report  of  June  30,  1859,  it  will 
be  seen  that  there  is  a  balance  of  $5-, 021  85 \  over  the  appropriation 
for  the  year  1858-59,  and  the  balance  on  hand  June  30,  1858. 

In  explanation  I  will  state  that  on  my  arrival  in  this  Territory  the 
Indians  were  in  a  feverish  excitement,  and  great  energy,  and  almost 
incessant  traveling  among  them,  and  presents,  were  necessary  to  calm 
them  down. 

And  also,  upon  examining  into  the  affairs  of  the  various  Indian 
farms,  I  at  once  perceived  they  were  nearly  destitute  of  teams  and  im 
plements,  and,  being  well  assured  that  a  liberal  policy  would  produce 
liberal  results,  I  furnished  to  each  farm  the  necessary  oxen  and  imple 
ments,  which  is  a  considerable  item  in  my  expenditures.  I  am  also 
thoroughly  convinced  that  Indian  farms  properly  and  judiciously 
managed  can  be  made  to  pay  their  own  expenses  and  feed  the  Indians. 

And  it  is  in  view  of  this  policy  that  I  have  placed  the  first  farms  in 
good  working  order,,  and  have  opened  two  new  ones  and  furnished 
them  with  all  needful  appliances.  Indeed,  I  am  satisfied  with  what  I 
have  accomplished  with  so  small  a  sum. 

I  hope  the  department  will  appreciate  the  difficult  position  I  was 
placed  in  the  past  year,  and  place  to  my  credit  in  the  St.  Louis  sub- 
treasury  the  balance  before  named  of  $5,021  85 J,  and  also  the  sum 
expended  by  order  of  the  department  for  the  expense  of  recovering  and 
sending  home  the  seventeen  children,  $5,925  48. 

I  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  FORNEY, 
Sup't  Indian  Affairs,  Utah  Territory. 

Hon.  A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  Washington,  D.  C. 


I 

74  MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS. 


SUPERINTENDENT'S  OFFICE,  UTAH, 
Great  Salt  Lake  City,  August  10,  1859. 

SIR:  Your  letter  of  2d  ultimo  was  received  by  yesterday's  mail,  and 
it  will  afford  me  pleasure  to  furnish  you  with  the  desired  information. 
It  was  my  intention,  immediately  upon  my  return  from  the  south 
(beginning  of  May)  with  the  children,-  to  give  you  a  full  statement, 
from  facts  in  my  possession,  of  the  emigrant  party  in  question,  of  their 
journey  through  this  Territory  to  their  final  resting  place,  and  of  the 
children  saved,  but  had  too  much  other  business  on  hand,  and  the  care 
of  the  children. 

I  have,  however,  such  a  communication  in  progress,  and  intend  to 
conclude  it  to-day,  or  before  I  leave  to-morrow  for  Ruby  and  Deep 
Creek  valleys,  three  hundred  miles  west.  I  will  also  furnish  the 
attorney  general  with  the  names  of  the  persons  who  I  know  were 
engaged  in  said  massacre,  and  names  of  witnesses. 

Chief  Justice  Eckels  will  commence  a  court  in  his  district  the  fourth 
Monday  of  this  month,  at  Nephi.  The  attorney  general  is  preparing 
to  investigate  the  Mountain  Meadow  massacre  before  this  court. 
Nephi  is  two  hundred  miles  from  Cedar  City,  in  which  place  and 
neighborhood  nearly  all  the  perpretrators  and  witnesses  reside.  It 
will  be  very  difficult,  indeed  almost  impossible,  to  bring  all  the  parties 
to  Nephi.  Cedar  City  is  the  proper  place  to  hold  a  court  to  success 
fully  try  those  concerned  in  the  Mountain  Meadow  affair.  I  suggested 
to  Judge  Eckels,  indeed  urged  the  propriety  of  going  to  Cedar  City 
with  his  court.  He  seems  determined  not  to  do  so. 

I  met  Judge  Cradlebaugh  a  few  miles  south  of  Fillmore  the  latter 
part  of  April,  when  on  my  way  from  the  south  with  the  children. 
The  judge  was  traveling  with  a  small  military  detachment,  going 
south  for  a  special  purpose.  I  furnished  him  with  the  names  of  the 
guilty  and  of  the  witnesses. 

The  attorney  general  made  a  special  request  when  I  started  south, 
that  I  would  make  strict  inquiry  of  everything  connected  with  this 
affair. 

The  course  adopted  for  the  legal  investigation  of  this  matter  will 
not  prove  successful  at  the  contemplated  court,  principally  for  the 
reason,  already  stated,  the  great  distance  from  where  the  really  guilty 
and  witnesses  are  living. 

I  fear,  and  I  regret  to  say  it,  that  with  certain  parties  here  there  is  a 
greater  anxiety  to  connect  B.  Young  and  other  church  dignitaries 
with  every  criminal  offense,  than  diligently  endeavor  to  punish  the 
actual  perpetrators  of  crime. 

I  have  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  reliable  history  of  the  Mountain 
Meadow  massacre.  I  will,  in  my  next  annual  report,  give  it  to  the 
public,  and  also  the  names  of  the  actors,  if  they  are  not  sooner  made 
known  through  the  proper  legal  tribunals,  to  whom  I  have  already 
given  many  valuable  facts. 

I  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  FORNEY, 
Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs  U.  T. 

Hon.  A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  Washington,  D.  C. 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  75 

SUPERINTENDENT'S  OFFICE,  UTAH, 
,,  *.v.  Great  Salt  Lake  City,  August,  1859. 

SIR:  It  has  been  my  intention,  for  some  weeks  past,  to  give  you  a 
more  full  statement  than  heretofore  given  of  the  Mountain  Meadow 
tragedy,  and  of  the  children  saved  from  it. 

July,  1858,  I  received  instructions  from  the  Acting  Commissioner, 
C.  E.  Mix,  in  relation  to  certain  children.  In  pursuance  to  which,  I 
commenced  without  delay  to  make  inquiry  after  the  children  supposed 
to  have  been  saved,  and  living  among  whites  and  Indians.  I  very 
soon  obtained  satisfactory  information  that  thirteen  to  seventeen  chil 
dren  were  spared  at  the  massacre  of  a  certain  emigrant  company  the 
8th  or  9th  September,  1857,  in  Mountain  Meadow  valley,  Utah  Terri 
tory,  whilst  on  their  way  to  California.  Sixteen  of  the  children  were 
very  soon  collected  and  subject  to  my  directions,  and  for  whom  I  com 
menced  providing  immediately.  It  was  my  earnest  desire  and  purpose 
to  visit  the  southern  portion  of  the  Territory  early  last  fall,  but  the 
safety  of  the  United  States  mail  on  the  northern  California  road,  and 
the  public  interest  generally,  required  my  immediate  presence  in  and 
adjacent  to  the  Humboldt  valley,  and  I  returned  too  late  from  the 
Humboldt  to  travel  north  with  so  many  little  children.  I,  however, 
suggested  to  the  department  to  have  the  children  taken  to  the  States 
by  way  of  California  and  the  San  Francisco  and  New  York  steamers. 
There  is  no  impediment  at  any  season  of  the  year  to  travel  to  the 
Pacific  by  the  southern  route  from  where  the  children  were  then  living. 

A  massacre  of  such  unparalleled  magnitude  on  American  soil  must 
necessarily  excite  much  interest  in  the  public  mind.  From  informa 
tion  received  from  various  sources  during  the  last  twelve  months,  I  am 
enabled  to  give  you  a  reliable  account  of  the  emigrant  company  in 
question,  and  the  children  remaining,  and  also  some  of  the  causes  and 
circumstances  of  the  inhuman  massacre. 

The  company  was  composed  of  about  thirty  families,  and  one  hun 
dred  and  thirty  to  one  hundred  and  forty  persons,  and,  I  think, 
principally  from  Johnston  county,  Arkansas. 

I  have  deemed  it  a  matter  of  material  importance  to  make  strict 
inquiry  relative  to  the  general  behavior  and  conduct  of  the  company 
towards  the  people  of  this  Territory  in  their  journey  through  it,  and 
am  justified  in  saying  that  they  conducted  themselves  with  propriety. 

It  is  generally  conceded  that  the  said  company  was  abundantly  sup 
plied  with  traveling  and  extra  horses,  cattle,  &c.  They  had  about 
thirty  good  wagons,  and  about  thirty  mules  and  horses,  and  six  hun 
dred  head  of  cattle,  when  passing  through  Provo  City,  Utah  Territory. 
At  Corn  Creek,  fifteen  miles  from  Fillmore  City,  and  one  hundred  and 
sixty-five  miles  south  of  this  city,  the  company  camped  several  days. 
At  this  place,  and  within  a  few  miles  of  the  Indian  farm,  (commenced 
a  few  years  ago  for  the  Pah-vant  tribe,  and  all  living  on  it,)  it  is 
alleged  that  the  said  emigrant  company  treated  the  Indians  most 
inhumanly;  such  as  poisoning  a  spring  with  arsenic,  and  impregnating 
dead  cattle  with  strichnine.  John  D.  Lee,  living  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  south  of  Fillmore,  informed  me  that  about  twenty  Indians  and 
some  cattle  died  from  drinking  of  the  poisoned  water,  and  Indians 
from  eating  the  poisoned  meat. 


76  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN    MEADOWS. 

Dr.  Ray,  of  Fillmore  City,  assured  me  that  one  of  his  oxen  died 
while  the  company  was  encamped  in  the  neighborhood,  and  that  his 
wife,  while  engaged  rendering  the  tallow  of  the  dead  ox,  became  sud 
denly  ill,  and  that  a  boy  who  was  assisting  her  died  in  a  few  days. 

I  have  not  been  apprised  of  any  investigation  at  the  time  by  the 
Indian  officials  who  were  then  in  the  Territory,  or  of  an  official  in 
vestigation  by  the  proper  authorities  of  Fillmore.  It  seems  obvious 
that  Dr.  Ray's  ox  died  about  the  time  these  unfortunate  people  were 
camped  in  the  neighborhood.  I  cannot  learn,  however,  of  any  diffi 
culty  the  company  had  with  the  Pah-vant  Indians  while  camped  near 
them.  The  ox  died  unquestionably  from  eating  a  poisonous  weed  that 
grows  in  most  of  the  valleys  in  this  Territory,  and  it  is  by  no  means 
uncommon  for  cattle  to  get  poisoned  and  die  from  the  effects  of  this 
weed.  One  or  two  Indians  died  from  eating  of  the  dead  ox,  but  I  have 
not  been  apprised  that  this  excited  any  of  them  against  the  emigrants. 
And  after  strict  inquiry  I  cannot  learn  that  even  one  Pah-varit  Indian 
was  present  at  the  massacre.  Those  persons  in  Fillmore,  and  further 
south,  who  believe  that  a  spring  was  poisoned  with  arsenic,  and  the 
meat  of  a  dead  ox  with  strichnine,  by  said  company,  may  be  honest  in 
their  belief,  and  attribute  the  cause  of  the  massacre  to  the  alleged  poi 
soning.  Why  an  emigrant  company,  and  especially  farmers,  would 
carry  with  them  so  much  deadly  poison  is  incomprehensible.  I  regard 
the  poisoning  affair  as  entitled  to  no  consideration.  In  my  opinion, 
bad  men,  for  a  bad  purpose,  have  magnified  a  natural  circumstance  for 
the  perpetration  of  a  crime  that  has  no  parallel  in  American  history 
for  atrocity. 

I  hear  nothing  more  of  the  emigrant  company  until  their  arrival  in 
Mountain  Meadow  valley,  about  the  2d  or  3d  of  September,  1857". 
This  valley  is  seven  miles  in  length  east  and  west,  and  one  to  three 
wide — a  large  spring  at  each  end.  In  about  the  centre,  and  from 
north  to  south-east,  is  what  is  termed  the  "  rim  of  the  basin."  East 
of  this  the  waters  go  to  the  lakes  of  Utah  Territory,  and  those  west 
into  the  Pacific.  The  valley  is  well  hemmed  in  by  high  hills  or  moun 
tains;  is  almost  a  continuous  meadow,  affording  an  abundance  of 
pasture. 

At  the  spring  in  the  east  end  is  a  house  and  corral,  occupied  in 
September,  1857,  by  Mr.  Jacob  Hamblin.  It  is  due  to  Mr.  Hamblin 
to  say  that  he  left  home  several  weeks  before  the  company  arrived  in 
the  valley,  and  returned  home  several  days  after  the  massacre. 

David  Tulis  (was  living  with  Mr.  Hamblin)  says:  "The  company 
passed  by  the  house  on  Friday,  September  2d  or  3d,  towards  evening; 
that  it  was  a  large  and  respectable-looking  company.  One  of  the  men 
rode  up  to  where  I  was  working,  and  asked  if  there  was  water  ahead. 
I  said,  yes.  The  person  who  rode  up  behaved  civilly.  The  company 
camped  at  the  spring  in  the  west  end  of  the  valley.  I  heard  firing  on 
Monday  morning,  and  for  four  or  five  mornings  afterwards;  if  there 
had  been  firing  during  the  day,  I  could  not  have  heard  it  on  account 
of  the  wind/' 

I  then  asked  Mr.  Tulis  the  following  questions,  and  received  answers, 
to  wit : 


MASSACRE    AT    MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  77 

1.  When  you  heard  the  firing  first  what  was  your  opinion  of  its 
cause  ? 

Answer.  I  believed  it  was  the  Indians  fighting  the  emigrant  company 
camped  at  the  spring  at  the  other  end  of  the  valley 

2.  Why  did  you  not  notify  the  nearest  settlement? 

Answer.  I  thought  or  expected  that  the  people  of  the  nearest  settle 
ment  knew  of  the  fight. 

3.  Why  did  you  suppose  so? 

Answer.  Because  I  saw  Indians  riding  back  and  forwards  on  the 
road. 

4.  Was  you  afraid? 
Answer.  I  was  a  little  timid. 

5.  How  soon  did  you  see  white  men? 

Answer.  Two  or  three  days  afterwards,  (that  is,  after  the  massacre ;) 
these  persons  looked  like  travelers.  I  think  they  went  to  bury  the 
dead. 

6.  Did  you  see  many  Indians  during  the  fight? 

Answer.  During  the  fighting  the  Indians  continued  to  run  to  and 
fro  on  the  road. 

7.  How  many  were  in  the  train? 

Answer.  I  suppose  70  to  100;  there  seemed  to  be  a  good  many 
women  and  children. 

8.  Did  you  hear  any  talk  about  the  massacre? 
Answer.  Yes. 

9.  What  did  you  hear  was  the  cause  of  the  massacre? 

Answer.  I  heard  afterwards;  because  the  emigrant  party  poisoned 
the  spring  or  some  cattle  at  Corn  creek. 

10.  What  was  your  own  opinion  of  the  cause? 

Answer.  I  thought  there  must  have  been  some  fuss  with  the  Indians 
along  the  road  somewhere.  I  heard  that  the  emigrant  party  had 
poisoned  a  spring  at  Corn  creek. 

11.  What  became  of  the  property? 

Answer.  The  Indians  drove  all  the  cattle  and  horses  away.  I  heard 
they  burned  the  wagons  where  they  were  camped. 

12.  What  was  done  with  the  children  immediately  after  the  massacre? 
Answer.  I  heard  the  Indians  took  them  to  Cedar  City.     I  also  saw 

the  Indians  drive  some  cattle  towards  Cedar  City. 

13.  Did  you  ever  see  any  of  the  property  in  the  possession  of  whites? 
Answer.  No. 

14.  Did  you  ever  hear  any  one  talk  about  the  property? 
Answer.  No. 

15.  Did  you  ever  hear  of  any  one  escaping  from  the  fight  or  massacre? 
Answer.  I  heard  of  one ;  and  he  was  afterwards  killed  at  the  Muddy 

or  Los  Vagos  river. 

This  is  part  of  the  statement  of  D.  Tulis,  made  to  me  in  presence  of 
William  H.  Rodgers,  April  13  last,  while  on  my  trip  to  Santa  Clara. 
He  was  traveling  with  us  from  Painter  Creek. 

I  will  give  you  a  few  extracts  from  the  statements  by  Alfred,  who  is 
a  civilized  Shoshonee  Indian,  raised  by  Mr.  Jacob  Hamblin,  and  was 
then  and  is  still  living  with  him.  Alfred  says  : 

"1  saw  the  company  passing  our  house  about  sun  down.     It  was  a 


78  MASSACRE    AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 

large  company.  They  camped  at  the  spring  in  the  other  end  of  the 
valley.  A  day  or  two  after  passing  our  house,  I  heard  firing  when  in 
bed  ;  it  continued  all  day  four  days. 

Question.  Why  did  you  not  go  there? 

Answer.  I  had  not  time  ;  I  was  attending  to  the  sheep.  The  time 
they  were  killed,  I  was  ahout  a  mile  from  them.  I  saw  some  Indians 
killing  them.  They  shot  some  with  arrows  and  guns,  and  others  were 
killed  with  clubs.  I  talked  with  some  of  the  Indians  (the  day  they 
were  killed  ;)  they  were  mad  and  I  was  afraid  to  talk-  much  to  them. 
Some  of  the  Indians,  during  the  four  or  five  days  firing,,  rode  to  and 
fro  towards  Painter  Creek  settlement,  about  ten  miles  east  of  the 
Mountain  Meadow  valley  ;  they  were  riding  over  the  hills,  and  riding 
very  fast. 

Question.  Why  did  you  not,  during  the  four  or  five  days  firing, 
notify  the  people  of  Painter  Creek  and  Cedar  City  of  the  fight  ? 

Answer.  I  told  Mr.  Tulis  and  those  at  the  house,  when  I  came  in  from 
herding,  about  the  Indians  fighting  the  emigrants.  Mr.  Tulis  told 
me  to  mind  my  business  and  attend  to  my  herding.  I  saw  the  Indians 
killing  the  whites. 

Question.  How  did  the  emigrants  get  out  of  the  corral? 

Answer.  They  thought  the  Indians  had  all  left,  and  then  they 
started  out  and  were  coming  to  our  house,  and  when  they  were  about 
a  mile  from  the  wagons,  the  Indians  who  were  hid  behind  oak  brush 
and  sage  fell  on  them.  I  went  to  the  place  the  same  day  and  saw  the 
dead  lying  about.  Some  were  stript  and  some  were  dressed.  The 
Indians  were  mad,  scolding  and  quarrelling.  I  saw  the  children  going 
past  our  house.  (Mr.  Hamblin's.)  All  the  children  stopped  at  our 
house. 

Question.  Who  brought  the  children  to  Mr.  Hamblin's  house? 

Answer.  Mr.  David  Tulis  brought  them  all  to  our  house  in  a  wagon 
about  dark,  the  same  evening  of  the  day  of  the  massacre. 

Question.  Was  Mr.  Jacob  Hamblin  at  home  when  the  company 
arrived  in  the  valley  and  the  day  of  the  massacre  ? 

Answer.  He  left  home  several  weeks  before  the  company  arrived, 
and  returned  several  days  after  the  massacre. 

These  persons  lived  at  Mr.  Hamblin's,  and  within  three  and  a  half 
miles  of  the  spot  where  the  killing  was  done  ;  yet  neither  were  there,, 
if  one  is  to  believe  them, 

I  conclude  from  the  most  reliable  information  that  the  company 
promiscuously  camped  near  the  spring,  intending  to  remain  some  days 
to  recruit  the  stock,  preparatory  to  crossing  the  several  deserts  before 
reaching  California.  They  had  no  apprehension  of  serious  danger 
when  they  first  reached  the  valley,  and  for  several  days  afterwards,  or 
from  Friday  until  Monday  morning.  The  company  then  corraled  the 
wagons  and  made  a  protective  fort,  by  filling  with  earth  the  space 
under  the  wagons.  I  saw  the  evidences  of  this  last  April. 

The  Indians  got  into  a  state  of  tremendous  excitement,  through 
misrepresentations  of  the  foulest  character,  about  the  supposed  poison 
ing  at  Corn  Creek. 

The  Peyute  Indians,  inhabiting  the  southern  portion  of  this  Terri 
tory  are  divided  into  ten  bands,  roaming  from  Beaver  valley  to  the 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  79 

California  line,  and  have  received  and  are  receiving  considerable  assistance 
from  the  whites.  Most  of  the  Indians  from  the  several  bands,  adjacent 
to  the  Mountain  Meadow  valley,  were  concentrated  at  or  near  the  valley. 
These  Indians  received  their  instructions  from  white  men.  In  pur 
suance  to  arrangements,  the  first  attack  was  made  on  the  unfortunate 
company  by  Indians  on  Monday  morning,  and  continued  daily  until 
Friday  morning,  September  9.  The  camp  was  surrounded  continually, 
preventing  any  one  from  leaving  the  corral  without  hazarding  life, 
during  five  or  six  days. 

It  is  impossible  to  comprehend  the  immense  suffering.  On  the 
fatal  morning  two  wagons  approached  the  corral,  and  several  whites 
effected  a  compromise,  the  emigrants  giving  up  all  their  arms,  with 
the  assurance  that  the  lives  of  all  should  be  saved  and  conducted  back 
in  safety  to  Cedar  City.  The  company  started  under  the  care  and 
direction  of  white  men  ;  the  wounded,  old  women,  and  children  were 
taken  in  the  two  wagons.  They  proceeded  about  one  and  a  half  mile 
toward  Cedar,  when  suddenly,  and  in  obedience  to  a  signal,  the  work 
of  death  commenced.  The  murderers  were  secreted  in  a  few  acres  of 
oak  brush  and  sage,  the  only  thing  of  the  kind  I  saw  in  the  valley. 
My  impression  is  that  from  one  hundred  and  fifteen  to  one  hundred 
and  twenty  were  there  murdered.  Several  escaped  ;  only  three  got 
out  of  the  valley  ;  two  of  whom  were  soon  overtaken  and  shot  down. 
One  adult  got  as  far  as  the  Muddy,  and  was  returning  with  two 
persons  from  California  ;  but  he  was  also  overtaken  and  shot  by 
Indians. 

From  the  evidence  in  my  possession,  I  am  justified  in  the  declaration 
that  this  massacre  was  concocted  by  white  men  and  consummated  by 
whites  and  Indians.  The  names  of  many  of  the  whites  engaged  in 
this  terrible  affair  have  already  been  given  to  the  proper  legal 
.authorities . 

I  will  in  due  time  take  the  necessary  steps  for  the  recovery  of  the 
property,  which  was  sold  and  divided  among  certain  parties. 

The  seventeen  little  children,  all  that  1  can  learn  of,  were  taken 
.after  the  massacre  to  Mr.  Hamblin's  house  by  John  D.  Lee,  David 
Tulis,  and  others,  in  a  wagon,  either  the  same  evening  or  the  following 
morning.  The  children  were  sold  out  to  different  persons  in  Cedar 
-City,  Harmony,  and  Painter  Creek.  Bills  are  now  in  my  possession 
from  different  individuals,  asking  payment  from  the  government.  -  I 
cannot  condescend  to  become  the  medium  of  even  transmitting  such 
claims  to  the  department. 

I  feel  confident  that  the  children  were  well  cared  for  whilst  in  the 
hands  of  these  people.  I  found  them  happy  and  contented,  except 
those  who  were  sick. 

Below  is  a  list  of  the  children  recovered  by  me  and  brought  to  this 
-city,  fifteen  of  whom  are  now  en  route  to  Arkansas,  and  two  detained 
to  give  evidence: 

John  Calvin  Sorel;  Lewis  and  Mary  Sorel;  Ambrose  Miram,  and 
William  Taggit;  Frances  Horn;  Angeline,  Annie,  and  Sophronia  or 
Mary  Huff;  Ephraim  W.  Huff;  Charles  and  Annie  Francher;  Betsey 


80  MASSACRE    AT    MOUNTAIN    MEADOWS. 

and  Jane  Baker ;  Rebecca,  Louisa,  and  Sarah  Dunlap ;  William  (Welch) 
Baker. 

I  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  FORNEY, 

Supt.  Indian  Affairs  Utah  Territory. 
Hon.  A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Com.  of  Indian  Affairs,  Washington,  D.  C. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  August  15,  1859. 

SIR:  From  information  just  received  from  Robert  B.  Jarvis,  Esq., 
late  Indian  agent,  in  Utah  Territory,  I  learn  that  the  children, 
rescued  from  the  Indians  in  that  Territory,  and  who  are  survivors  of 
the  massacre  at  Mountain  Meadow,  in  1857,  will  not  probably  reach 
Leavenworth  City  until  sometime  between  the  1st  and  5th  September 
proximo.  Mr.  Jarvis  accompanied  them  as  far  as  Fort  Laramie. 

You  are  thus  informed,  in  order  that  you  may  not  be  disappointed 
by  any  delay  to  which  you  may  be  subjected,  after  reaching  Leaven- 
worth  City,  by  the  non-arrival  of  the  party  in  charge  of  the  children. 

In  this  connection,  I  would  remark  that  Mr.  Jarvis  has  furnished 
this  office  with  a  list  of  articles,  received  from  the  Superintendent  of 
the  Indian  Affairs,  Utah  Territory,  and  which  he  has  turned  over  to 
the  proper  officer  of  the  expedition  ;  and  I  inclose  a  copy  thereof,  in 
order  that  you  may,  upon  the  arrival  of  the  children,  be  enabled  to 
designate  such  articles  or  utensils  as  may  have  been  consumed,  lost,  or 
destroyed,  and  upon  the  remainder  being  delivered  to  you,  you  should 
give  duplicate  receipts  for  the  same,  one  of  which  is  to  be  forwarded  to 
this  office,  the  other  to  be  retained  by  the  officer  now  having  them  in 
charge,  to  whom  Mr.  Jarvis  has  stated  he  will  write,  requesting  him 
to  turn  over  the  articles  to  you  upon  your  application  for  them. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner . 

WILLIAM  C.  MITCHELL,  Esq., 

Special  Agent,  &c. 

Care  of  Smoot,  Russell  &  Co.,  Leavenworth  City,  Kansas  Territory. 


CAMP  FLOYD,  UTAH  TERRITORY,  August  18,  1859. 
SIR:  Inclosed  herewith  you  will  find  an  affidavit  of  Captain  Lynch 
and  others,  in  relation  to  the  massacre  at  the  Mountain  Meadows.  This 
affidavit  I  have  been  permitted  to  forward  to  you  for  your  information 
in  relation  to  the  sad  affair  of  which  it  treats.  One  thing  I  think  you 
may  regard  as  certain,  that  is,  that  these  children  never  were  in  the 
hands  of  Indians.  Were  never  purchased  of  any  one,  but  were  par 
celed  out  among  the  murderers,  and  that  Dr.  Forney  and  Hamblin 
knew  it. 


MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS.  81 

This  affidavit  may  also  be  useful  to  the  administration  in  explaining 
the  differences  existing  among  federal  appointees  in  Utah. 

I  assure  you,  sir,  that  it  affords  me  no  pleasure  to  give  you  this  in 
formation,  I  do  so  only  under  a  strong  sense  of  duty. 
I  am,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

D.  B.  ECKELS. 
Hon.  SECRETARY  OF  INTERIOR, 

NOTE. — I  am  informed  that  Captain  Lynch  has  chosen  to  make  a 
copy  of  these  affidavits  public. 

D.  R.  ECKELS. 


1       /• 
UTAH  TERRITORY,  Cedar  County,  ss: 

James  Lynch,  of  lawful  age,  being  first  duly  sworn,  states  on  oath, 
that  he  was  one  the  party  who  accompanied  Dr.  Jacob  Forney,  super 
intendent  of  Indian  affairs,  in  an  expedition  to  the  Mountain  Meadows, 
Santa  Clara,  &c.,  in  the  months  of  March  and  April  last,  when  we  re 
ceived  sixteen  children,  sole  survivors  of  the  wholesale  massacre  J3er- 
petrated  at  the  former  place  in  the  month  of  September  1857.  TChe 
children  when  we  first  saw  them  were  in  a  most  wretched  and  deplo 
rable  condition;  with  little  or  no  clothing,  covered  with  filth  and  dirty 
they  presented  a  sight  heart-rending  and  miserable  in  the  extreme. 
The  scene  of  the  fearful  murder  still  bears  evidence  of  the  atrocious 
crime,  charged  by  the  Mormons  and  their  friends  to  have  been  perpe 
trated  by  Indians,  but  really  by  Mormons  disguised  as  Indians,  who, 
in  their  headlong  zeal,  bigotry,  and  fanaticism,  deemed  this  a  favorable 
opportunity  of  at  once  wreaking  their  vengeance  on  the  hated  people 
of  Arkansas,  and  of  making  another  of  those  iniquitous  " blood  offer 
ings"  to  God,  so  often  recommended  by  Brigham  Young  and  their  other 
leaders.  For  more  than  two  square  miles  the  ground  is  strewn  with 
the  skull  bones  and  other  remains  of  the  victims.  In  places  the  water 
has  washed  many  of  these  remains  together,  forming  little  mounds, 
raising  monuments  as  it  were  to  the  cruelty  of  man  to  his  fellow  man. 
Here  and  there  may  be  found  the  remains  of  an  innocent  infant  beside 
those  of  some  fond,  devoted  mother,  ruthlessly  slain  by  men  worse  than 
demons;  their  bones  lie  bleaching  in  the  noon-day  sun,  a  mute  but  an 
eloquent  appeal  to  a  just  but  offended  God  for  vengeance.  I  have  wit 
nessed  many  harrowing  sights  on  the  fields  of  battle,  but  never  did  my 
heart  thrill  with  such  horrible  emotions,  as  when  standing  on  that 
silent  plain  contemplating  the  remains  of  the  innocent  victims  of  Mor 
mon  avarice,  fanaticism,  and  cruelty. 

Many  of  these  remains  are  now  in  possession  of  a  Mr.  Rodgers,  a 
gentleman  who  accompanied  us  upon  the  expedition.  Why  were  not 
these  remains  interred,  if  not  in  a  Christian-like  and  proper  manner, 
at  least  covered  from  the  sight?  But  no,  the  hatred  of  their  murderers 
extended  to  them  after  their  death.  There  they  lay,  a  prey  to  the 
famished  wolves  that  run  howling  over  the  desolate  plains  to  the  un 
looked-for  feast,  food  for  the  croaking  raven  that  through  the^tainted 
air  with  swift  wing  wended  their  way  to  revel  in  their  banquet  of 
blood. 

Ex.  Doc.  42 6 


82  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 

I  inquired  of  Jacob  Hamlin,  who  is  a  high  church  dignitary,  why 
these  remains  were  not  buried  at  some  time  subsequent  to  the  murder. 
He  said  the  bodies  were  so  much  decomposed  that  it  was  impossible  to 
inter  them.  No  longer  let  us  boast  of  our  citizenship,  freedom,  or 
civilization.  Here  was  one  hundred  and  forty  poor^  harmless  emi 
grants  to  California  butchered  in  cold  blood,  by  white  men,  too,  with 
attending  circumstances  far  exceeding  anything  in  cruelty  that  we 
have  ever  heard  of  or  read  of  being  perpetrated,  even  by  savages.  It 
is  now  high  time  that  the  actors  and  instigators  of  this  dreadful  crime 
should  be  brought  to  condign  punishment.  For  years  these  Mormons 
have  possessed  an  immunity  from  punishment,  or  a  sort  of  privilege 
for  committing  crimes  of  this  nature,  but  soon,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  a  new 
state  of  things  must  dawn — retribution  must  come — vengeance  must  be 
had,  civilization,  humanity,  and  Christianity  call  for  it,  and  the  Ameri 
can  people  must  have  it.  Blood  may  be  shed,  difficulties  may  be  en 
countered,  but  just  as  sure  as  there  is  a  sun  at  noon-day,  retribution 
will  yet  overtake  the  guilty  wretches,  their  aiders,  abetters,  whether 
open  or  hidden  under  disguise  of  government  employment. 

John  D.  Lee,  a  Mormon  president,  has  knowledge  of  the  where 
abouts  of  much  of  the  property  taken  from  these  ill-fated  emigrants, 
and,  if  I  am  not  misinformed,  in  possession  of  a  large  quantity  of  it. 
Why  not  make  him  disgorge  this  ill-gotten  plunder,  and  disclose  the 
amount  escheated  to  and  sold  out  by  the  Mormon  Church  as  its  share 
of  the  blood  of  helpless  victims?  When  he  enters  into  a  league  with 
hell  and  a  covenant  with  death,  he  should  not  be  allowed  to  make 
feasts  and  entertain  government  officials  at  his  table  as  he  did  Dr. 
Jacob  Forney,  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  while  the  rest  of  his 
party  refused,  in  his  hearing  and  that  of  Lee,  to  share  the  hospitality 
of  this  notorious  murderer — THIS  SCOURGE  OF  THE  DESERT.  This  man  Lee 
does  not  deny,  but  admits  that  he  was  present  at  the  massacre,  but 
pretends  that  he  was  there  to  prevent  bloodshed ;  but  positive  evidence 
implicates  him  as  the  leader  of  the  murderers  too  deeply  for  denial. 
The  children  point  him  out  as  one  of  them  that  did  the  bloody  work. 
He  and  other  white  men  had  these  children,  and  they  never  were  in 
the  hands  of  the  Indians,  but  in  those  who  murdered  them,  and  Jacob 
Hamlin  and  Jacob  Forney  know  it.  The  children  pointed  out  to  us 
the  dresses  and  jewelry  of  their  mothers  and  sisters  that  now  grace  the 
angelic  fbrms  of  these  murderers'  women  and  children.  Verily  it 
would  seem  that  men  and  women  alike  combined  in  this  wholesale 
slaughter. 

This  ill-fated  train  consisted  of  eighteen  wagons,  eight  hundred  and 
twenty  head  of  cattle,  household  goods  to  a  large  amount,  besides 
money,  estimated  at  eighty  or  ninety  thousand  dollars,  the  greater 
part  of  which,  it  is  believed,  now  makes  rich  the  harems  of  this  John 
D.  Lee.  Of  this  train  a  man,  whose  name  is  unknown,  fortunately 
escaped  at  the  time  of  the  massacre  to  Vegas,  one  hundred  miles 
distant  from  the  scene  of  blood,  on  the  California  road.  He  was  fol 
lowed  by  five  Mormons  who,  through  promises  of  safety,  &c.,  prevailed 
upon  him  to  begin  his  return  to  Mountain  Meadows,  and,  contrary  to 
their  promises  and  his  just  expectation,  they  inhumanly  butchered 
him,  laughing  at  and  disregarding  his  loud  and  repeated  cries  for 


MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS.  83 

mercy ;  as  witnessed  and  told  by  Ira  Hatch,  one  of  the  five.  The  object 
in  killing  this  man  was  to  leave  no  witness  competent  to  give  testi 
mony  in  a  court  of  justice  but  God,  whose  ways  are  inscrutable,  has 
thought  proper,  through  the  instrumentality  of  the  "  babes  and  suck 
lings"  recovered  by  us,  to  bring  to  light  this  most  horrible  tragedy,  and 
make  known  its  barbarous  and  inhuman  perpetrators. 

Already  a  step  has  been  taken  by  Judge  Cradlebaugh  in  the  right 
direction,,  of  which  we  see  the  evidence  in  the  flight  of  presidents,, 
bishops,  and  elders  to  the  mountains,  to  escape  the  just  penalty  of  the 
law  for  their  crimes.  If  the  vengeance  of  the  Lord  is  slow,  it  is  equally 
sure.  The  Mormons,  who  know  better,  have  reported  that  the  prin 
cipals  and,  in  fact,  all  the  actors  in  this  fearful  massacre,  were  Indian 
savages  ;  but  subsequent  events  have  thrown  sufficient  light  upon  this 
mystery  to  fix  the  foul  blot  indelibly  upon  the  Mormon  escutcheon. 
Many  of  the  leaders  are  well  known.  John  D.  Lee  was  the  corn- 
man  der-in-chief.  President  Haight  and  Bishop  Smith,  of  Cedar  City, 
and,  besides  these,  one  hundred  actors  and  accomplices,  are  known  to 
Judge  Cradlebaugh  and  Dr.  Forney.  Some  of  those  implicated  are 
and  have  been  in  the  confidence  and  under  employment  of  the  super 
intendent  of  Indian  affairs.  Bishop  Hamlin,  for  instance,  who  is  em 
ployed  by  Dr.  Forney  among  the  Indians  down  south,  who  knows  all 
the  facts,  but  refuses  to  disclose  them,  who  falsely  reported  to  Dr. 
Forney  that  the  children  we  brought  away  were  recovered  by  him  from 
persons  who  had  bought  them  from  Indians,  and  who  knew  that  what 
he  reported  was  false,  and  was  so  done  to  cheat  the  government  out  of 
money  to  again  reward  the  guilty  wretches  for  their  inhuman  butch 
eries.  It  is  pretended  that  this  man  is  friendly  towards  the  United 
States  government ;  yet  it  is  a  well-known  fact  that  he  screened  some 
of  these  murderers  about  his  house  from  justice,  among  whom  are  an 
Indian  named  George,  and  a  white  man  by  the  name  of  Tillis,  recog 
nized  by  one  of  these  children — a  little  girl  eight  years  old,  who  has 
been  sent  off  to  the  States  by  Dr.  Forney — as  the  man  who  killed  her 
mother. 

Hamlin  cannot  be  a  Mormon  bishop  and  a  friend  of  the  United  States, 
at  least,  where  Mormons  or  Mormonism  is  concerned.  His  creed  and 
oaths  forbid  it,  and  he  could  not,  if  he  would,  with  safety  to  himself, 
do  it.  Then,  why  not  out  with  him?  Dr.  Forney  can  find  another 
and  more  trustworthy  agent  than  he.  Why,  then,  keep  and  patronize 
the  abettor  of  crime  ? 

Before  I  close,  my  duty  to  my  country  calls  upon  me  to  state  to  the 
public  the  course  of  Dr.  Forney  to  engender  in  the  minds  of  the  Mor 
mons  feelings  of  antipathy  and  opposition  to  the  judiciary,  and  the 
many  obligations  which  he  violated  and  promises  which  he  disregarded 
during  this  trip. 

I  left  Camp  Floyd  in  March  last,  in  charge  of  thirty-nine  men, 
emigrating  to  Arizona.  About  the  27th  of  that  month  we  came  up 
with  Dr.  Forney,  at  Beaver  City,  who  there  informed  me  that  he  was 
en  route  to  the  scene  of  the  Mountain  Meadow  massacre  and  Santa 
Clara,  to  procure  evidence  in  relation  thereto,,  and  to  securer  the  sur 
viving  children.  He  informed  me  that  all  his  men  had  left  him,  being 
Mormons,  and  who,  before  leaving,  had  informed  him  (Forney)  that 


84  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 

if  he  went  down  south  the  people  down  there  would  make  an  eunuch 
of  him,  and  asked  us  for  aid  and  assistance.  I  cheerfully  placed  the 
whole  party  at  his  command,  telling  him  that  he  had  started  upon  an 
errand  of  mercy,  and  it  was  strange  that  he  should  have  employed 
Mormons,  the  very  confederates  of  these  monsters,  who  had  so  wan 
tonly  murdered  unoffending  emigrants,  to  ferret  out  the  guilty  parties. 
He  was  left  without  a  man,  and  we  found  him  guarding  his  mules 
and  wagons.  He  requested  two  of  the  men  of  my  party  (Thomas 
Dunn  and  John  Lofink)  to  return  to  Great  Salt  Lake  City  with  him, 
promising  to  give  them  employment  during  the  following  summer  and 
the  winter.  They  consented  to  abandon  their  trip  to  Arizona  upon 
these  terms,  and  returned  with  the  Doctor ;  and,  I  am  sorry  to  say, 
that  he  violated  his  plighted  faith  and  his  solemn  contract,  on  reach 
ing  the  city,  hy  immediately  discharging  them,  without  cause,  and 
hiring  Mormons  to  take  their  place,  as,  I  am  informed,  has  been  his 
custom  since  he  came  into  the  valley. 

I  was  with  Dr.  Forney  from  the  time  I  joined  him  until  he  returned 
to  the  city  of  Salt  Lake,  having  voluntarily  abandoned  my  expedition 
to  Arizona  to  aid  in  his  humane  enterprise,  and  during  the  trip  I  re 
peatedly  heard  him  tell  the  Mormons  u  that  they  need  not  fear  Judge 
Cradlebaugh,"  (whose  disclosures  and  energy  had  created  some  alarm ;) 
"that  he  (Forney)  would  have  him  removed  from  office;  that  the 
Mormons  (murderers  and  all)  were  all  included  in  the  President's 
proclamation  and  pardon,  and  would  not  be  tried  or  punished  for  any 
offense  whatever  committed  prior  to  the  issuing  of  the  pardon ;  that 
Judge  Cradlebaugh  was  not  a  fit  man  for  office."  In  fact,  abusing 
and  slandering  the  judge  in  unmeasured  terms,  no  language  being  too 
low  or  filthy  to  apply  to  him.  I  could  arrive  at  no  other  conclusion, 
from  his  conduct,  than  that  the  Doctor  desired  to  influence  the  mind 
of  the  Mormons  against  the  judiciary,  and  that  he  cared  more  to  create 
a  prejudice  against  Judge  Cradlebaugh' s  course  in  attempting  to  bring 
these  murders  to  light,  than  he  did  to  elicit  the  truth  relative  to  the 
murders,  and  that  he  was  only  following  out  his  instructions  from  the 
general  government  in  going  after  the  children,  while  he  was  availing 
himself  of  the  journey  to  make  a  pilgrimage  to  the  south  settlements 
to  abuse  and  traduce  Judge  Cradlebaugh,  and  arouse  a  feeling  of  re 
sistance  to  his  authority  among  the  guilty  murderers. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  Doctor  has  manifested  so  hostile  a 
feeling  to  his  associate  federal  officers,  and  that  the  course  of  the 
judges,  and  especially  that  of  Judge  Cradlebaugh,  has  to  be  criticised 
by  such  a  man  as  Jacob  Forney ,  a  more  veritable  old  granny  than 
whom,  in  my  opinion,  never  held  official  position  in  this  country;  and 
in  this  opinion  I  am  borne  out  by  the  concurrent  opinions  of  nearly 
all  the  Gentile  population  in  Utah,  who  know  him,  as  well  as  by  many 
of  the  Mormon  people.  I  now  reside  in  Cedar  county,  Utah  Territory. 

JAMES  LYNCH. 

James  Lynch,  being  duly  sworn,  states  on  oath  that  all  the  material 
facts  stated  by  him  in  the  foregoing  affidavit,  so  far  as  he  states  the 
same  as  of  his  own  knowledge,  are  true,  and  so  far  as  he  states  the 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  85 

same  as  from  information  derived  from  others,  as  also  trie  conclusions 
drawn  from  the  same,  he  believes  to  be  true,  and  further  saith  not. 

JAMES  LYNCH. 

Sworn  to  and  subscribed  July  27,  1859. 

D.  K.  ECKELS, 
Chief  Justice  of  Supreme  Court. 


The  undersigned  state  on  oath,  that  the  foregoing  affidavit  has  been 
carefully  read  to  them ;  that  they  are  the  identical  persons  named 
in  it  as  having  been  employed  by  Dr.  Jacob  Forney  to  return  with  him 
to  Salt  Lake  City ;  that  they  went  from  Beaver  City  with  said  Forney 
south,  and  back  again,  and  that  we  fully  concur  in  the  statements 
made  by  James  Lynch,  Esq.,  in  the  foregoing  affidavit,  as  to  what  we 
saw  and  heard  on  the  trip,  and  the  conduct  of  Dr.  Forney,  superin 
tendent  of  Indian  affairs,  and  further  say  not. 

THOMAS  DUNN. 

JOHN  LOFINK. 

Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me  July  2*T,  1859. 

D.  B.  ECKELS, 
Chief  Justice  of  Supreme  Court. 


[Telegraphic  dispatch.] 

FORT  LEAVENWORTH,  August  25. 

Fifteen  Mountain  Meadow  children  arrived  this  morning  from  Utah. 
No  arrangements  have  been  made  and  no  one  is  here  to  receive  them. 
What  shall  I  do  with  them?  The  Foster  children  have  been  delivered 
to  their  friends. 

STEWART  VAN  VLIET. 
General  S.  JESUP, 

Quartermaster  General,  Washington. 


[Telegraphic  dispatch.] 

LEAVENWORTH,  August  25. 

William  C.  Mitchell,  of  Arkansas,  received  the  children  of  Mountain 
Meadow  massacre. 

WM.  C.  MITCHELL, 

Special  Agent. 
A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  Washington. 


86  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  September  1,  1859. 

SIR:  Your  letter  of  the  25th  July  last,  inclosing  the  accounts  for 
expenses  incurred  in  recovering,  maintaining,  and  finally  sending  to 
Fort  Leavenworth  the  children  surviving  the  Mountain  Meadow  mas 
sacre  has  been  received,  and  as  soon  as  the  accounts  are  examined  you 
will  be  informed  of  the  result. 
Very  respectfully,  &c., 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner. 
J.  FORNEY,  Esq.}  Superintendent  Indian  Affairs, 

Great  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah  Territory. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  TIJE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  September  *l,  1859. 

SIR  :  I  have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  August  (no 
date)  last,  containing  a  fuller  account  than  heretofore  given  of  the 
Mountain  Meadow  massacre  and  of  the  children  saved  therefrom. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner. 
J.  FORNEY,  Esq.,  Superintendent  Indian  Affairs, 

Salt  Lake  City,  Utah  Territory. 


SUPERINTENDENT'S  OFFICE,  UTAH, 
Great  Salt  Lake  City,  September  22,  1859. 

SIR  :  Your  letter  dated  July  2,  in  which  you  request  me  to  ascer 
tain  the  names  of  white  men,  if  any,  implicated  in  the  Mountain 
Meadow  massacre,  reached  me  several  weeks  since,  about  300  miles 
west  of  this  city. 

I  gave  several  months  ago  to  the  Attorney  General  and  several  of 
the  United  States  judges  the  names  of  those  who  I  believed  were  not 
only  implicated,  but  the  hell-deserving  scoundrels  who  concocted  and 
brought  to  a  successful  termination  the  whole  aifair. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  persons  the  most  guilty:  Isaac 
T.  Haight,  Cedar  City,  president  of  several  settlements  south;  Bishop 
Smith,  Cedar  City;  John  D.  Lee,  Harmony;  John  M.  Higby,  Cedar 
City;  Bishop  Davis,  David  Tullis,  Santa  Clara;  Ira  Hatch,  Santa 
Clara.  These  were  the  cause  of  the  massacre,,  aided  by  others.  It  is 
to  be  regretted  that  nothing  has  yet  been  accomplished  towards  bring 
ing  these'  murderers  to  justice.  I  could,  perhaps,  give  some  reasons 
for  this.  In  the  first  place,  no  well-directed  effort  has  been  made  to 
catch  them.  Second.  The  names  of  the  guilty  were  paraded  in  the 
newspaper  published  here,  called  the  Valley  Tan.  And  in  fact  the 
names  were  made  public  by  a  judge  and  others,  and  all  this  before  an 
attempt  was  made  to  catch  them. 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  87 

I  am  aware  that  certain  parties  here  who  talk  loudest  did  not  make 
a  proper  effort  to  bring  to  trial  the  Mountain  Meadow  offenders,  by 
refusing  to  hold  court  within  a  reasonable  distance  of  the  parties  and 
witnesses ;  said  court  refused  to  accept  the  services  of  the  territorial 
marshal  who  proposed  to  apprehend  the  supposed  guilty,  and  refused 
fifteen  hundred  dollars,  which  were  offered  by  Hon.  William  H. 
Hooper,  delegate  to  Congress  from  Utah,  to  aid  in  defraying  the  ex 
penses  ;  and  I  had  the  assurance  of  several  leading  Mormons  that  the 
supposed  guilty  should  be  arrested,  and  I  had  no  reason  to  doubt  their 
sincerity. 

I  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  FORNEY, 
Superintendent  Indian  Affairs,  Utah  Territory. 

Hon.  A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner  Indian  Affairs,  Washington,  D.  C. 


Extract  from  Superintendent  Forney's  annual  report,  of  September  29, 

1859. 

MOUNTAIN   MEADOW   MASSACRE. 

A  company  of  emigrants  from  Arkansas,  emigrating  to  California, 
arrived  and  camped  at  a  spring  in  the  west  end  of  Mountain  Meadow 
valley  on  the  3d  or  4th  September,  1857.  On  the  9th  of  said  month, 
and  near  the  said  spring,  one  hundred  and  fifteen  to  one  hundred  and 
twenty  were  inhumanly  massacred.  The  lives  of  seventeen  children 
were  spared,  who  were  from  two  months  to  seven  years  old.  This 
massacre  was  brought  to  my  official  notice  by  a  letter  from  the  Hon. 
C.  E.  Mix,  received  June,  1858,  instructing  me  to  make  inquiry,  and 
recover,  if  possible,  certain  children,  who,  it  was  supposed,  were  saved 
from  the  massacre  and  were  supposed  to  be  living  with  Mormons  and 
Indians.  Sixteen  of  the  surviving  children  were  collected  in  July, 
1858,  and  were  placed  in  a  respectable  family  in  Santa  Clara,  three 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  south  of  this  city,  and  were  provided  for  by 
my  directions.  The  seventeenth  child  was  recovered  last  April.  None 
of  the  children  were  claimed  by  or  were  living  with  or  among  the  In 
dians.  They  were  taken  from  the  field  of  slaughter  the  evening  of 
the  day  their  friends  were  killed,  and  conveyed  in  a  wagon  to  Mr. 
Hamblin's  house,  in  the  east  end  of  the  valley,  by  John  D.  Lee  and 
Daniel  Tullis,  and  perhaps  others.  The  following  day  the  children 
were  divided  out  and  placed  in  different  Mormon  families  in  Cedar 
City,  Harmony,  Santa  Clara,  &c.,  from  whence  they  were  collected  in 
pursuance  of  my  directions.  A  massacre  of  such  unparalleled  magni 
tude  on  American  soil  must  sooner  or  later  demand  thorough  inves 
tigation.  I  have  availed  myself  during  the  last  twelve  months  of 
every  opportunity  to  obtain  reliable  information  about  the  said  emi 
grant  company,  and  the  alleged  causes  of  and  circumstances  which  led 
to  their  treacherous  sacrifice. 

Mormons  have  been  accused  of  aiding  the  Indians  in  the  commis 
sion  of  this  crime.  I  commenced  my  inquiries  without  prejudice  or 


88  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 

selfish,  motive,  and  with  a  hope  that,  in  the  progress  of  my  inquiries, 
facts  would  enable  me  to  exculpate  all  white  men  from  any  participa 
tion  in  this  tragedy,  and  saddle  the  guilt  exclusively  upon  the  Indians ; 
but,  unfortunately,  every  step  in  my  inquiries  satisfied  me  that  the 
Indians  acted  only  a  secondary  part.  Conflicting  statements  were 
made  to  me  of  the  behavior  of  this  emigrant  company,  while  traveling 
through  the  Territory.  I  have  accordingly  deemed  it  a  matter  of 
material  importance  to  make  a  strict  inquiry  to  obtain  reliable  infor 
mation  on  this  subject ;  not  that  bad  conduct  on  their  part  could  in 
any  degree  palliate  the  enormity  of  the  crime,  or  be  regarded  as  any 
extenuation.  My  object  was  common  justice  to  the  surviving  orphans. 
The  result  of  my  inquiries  enables  me  to  say  that  the  company  con 
ducted  themselves  with  propriety.  They  were  camped  several  days  at 
Corn  creek,  Fillrnore  valley,  adjacent  to  one  of  our  Indian  farms. 

Persons  have  informed  me  that,  whilst  there  encamped,  they  poi 
soned  a  large  spring  with  arsenic  and  the  meat  of  a  dead  ox  with 
strichnine.  This  ox  died,  unquestionably,  from  eating  a  poisonous 
weed,  which  grows  in  most  of  the  valleys  here.  Persons  in  the  south 
ern  part  of  the  Territory  told  me  last  spring,  when  on  a  southern  trip, 
that  from  fifteen  to  twenty  Pah-vant  Indians  (of  those  on  Corn  Creek 
farm)  died  from  drinking  the  water  of  the  poisoned  spring  and  eating 
of  the  poisoned  meat.  Other  equally  unreasonable  stories  were  told 
me  about  these  unfortunate  people. 

That  an  emigrant  company,  as  respectable  as  I  believe  this  was, 
would  carry  along  several  pounds  of  arsenic  and  strichnine,  appar 
ently  for  no  other  purpose  than  to  poison  cattle  and  Indians,  is  too 
improbable  to  be  true.  I  cannot  learn  that  the  Pah-vants  had  any 
difficulty  with  these  people.  The  massacre  took  place  only  about  one 
hundred  miles  south  of  Corn  creek,  and  yet  not  any  of  those  Indians 
were  present.  Bad  white  men  have  magnified  a  natural  cause  to  aid 
them  in  exciting  the  southern  Indians,  hoping  that,  by  so  doing,  they 
could  be  relied  upon  to  exterminate  the  said  company  and  escape 
detection  themselves.  Thus,  on  the  Monday  morning  subsequent  to 
the  Friday,  4th  or  5th  of  September,  the  day  they  camped  at  the 
spring,  the  Indians  commenced  firing  upon  them,  and  continued  daily 
until  and  during  the  eighth  day  of  their  encamping,  but  without  ac 
complishing  much.  Several  were  killed,  however,  and  a  few  wounded, 
When  the  company  first  apprehended  an  attack,  they  formed  a  corral 
with  their  wagons,  and  filled  up  with  earth  to  the  wagon  beds,  which 
made  a  protecting  fort.  White  men  were  present  and  directed  the 
Indians,  John  D.  Lee,  of  Harmony,  told  me,  in  his  own  house,  last 
April,  in  presence  of  two  persons,  that  he  was  present  three  successive 
days  during  the  fight,  and  was  present  during  the  fatal  day.  The 
Indians  alone  made  their  last  attack  on  the  8th  of  September.  On 
the  9th,  John  D.  Lee  and  others,  whose  names  I  gave  in  my  letter  of 
the  23d  ultimo,  displayed  a  white  flag,  and  approached  the  corral 
with  two  wagons,  and  had  a  long  interview  with  the  company,  and 
proposed  a  compromise.  What  there  occurred  has  not  transpired. 
The  emigrant  company  gave  up  all  their  arms,  with  the  expectation 
that  their  lives  would  be  spared,  and  they  be  conducted  back  to  Pan 
ther  creek  and  Cedar  city.  The  old  women,  children,  and  wounded 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MSADOWS.  89 

were  taken  in  the  wagons,  and  the  company  proceeded  towards  Pan 
ther  creek,  when,  suddenly,  at  a  signal,  the  work  of  death  commenced, 
about  one  and  a  half  miles  from  the  spring,  at  a  place  where  there  was 
about  an  acre  of  scrub-oak  brush.  Here  not  less,  I  think,  than  one 
hundred  and  fifteen  men,  women,  and  children,  were  slaughtered  by 
white  men  and  Indians.  Three  men  got  out  of  the  valley,  two  of 
whom  were  soon  overtaken  and  killed ;  the  other  reached  Muddy  creek, 
over  fifty  miles  off,  and  was  overtaken  and  killed  by  several  Indians 
and  one  white  man. 

Thus  terminated  the  most  extensive  and  atrocious  massacre  recorded 
in  American  history.  Whoever  may  have  been  the  perpetrators  of 
this  horrible  deed,  no  doubt  exists  in  my  mind  that  they  were  influ 
enced  chiefly  by  a  determination  to  acquire  wealth  by  robbery.  It  is 
in  evidence,  from  respectable  sources,  that  material  changes  have  taken 
place  in  the  pecuniary  condition  of  certain  individuals  suspected  of 
complicity  in  this  affair.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  no  well-directed 
effort  has  been  made  to  bring  the  guilty  to  trial  and  punishment.  I 
furnished  to  the  proper  officials  the  names  of  some  of  the  persons  who, 
I  had  reason  to  suppose,  were  instigators  and  participators  in  this 
unparalleled  massacre,  and  also  with  the  names  of  witnesses. 

It  was  my  intention  to  visit  the  southern  portion  of  the  Territory 
early  last  fall,  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  to  this  city  the  surviving 
children ;  but  the  public  interest,  the  safety  of  emigrants  and  of  the 
United  States  mail,  then  carried  on  the  Northern  California  road, 
required  my  presence  among  the  Indians  in  the  Humboldt  valley, 
which  place  I  visited  in  September  and  October,  1858.  Upon  my 
return  from  that  region,  the  weather  was  too  inclement  to  travel,  with 
so  many  little  children,  northwardly. 

I  started  as  early  this  spring  as  practicable,  and  arrived  back  with 
the  children  the  beginning  of  May.  It  is  proper  to  remark  that  when 
I  obtained  the  children  they  were  in  a  better  condition  than  children 
generally  in  the  settlements  in  which  they  lived. 

In  pursuance  of  instructions,  I  started  fifteen  of  the  surviving  chil 
dren,  the  29th  of  last  June,  for  Leavenworth  City,  under  the  general 
supervision  of  Major  Whiting,  United  States  army,  and  special  care 
of  several  females.  When  I  leave  for  the  States,  under  your  authority, 
I  will  take  with  me  the  two  boys,  who,  at  the  time  of  the  massacre, 
were  respectively  six  and  seven  years  old,  and  who  were  detained  here 
by  the  United  States  attorney  general,  in  the  hope  that  important 
facts  for  testimony  might  be  elicited  from  them. 

It  is  proper,  in  connection  with  the  foregoing,  to  state  that  this  emi 
grant  party,  previous  to  the  massacre,  was  in  possession  of  a  large 
quantity  of  property,  consisting  of  horses,  mules,  oxen,  wagons,  and 
other  valuables,  as  well  as  money,  clothing,  &c.,  not  one  particle  of 
which  has  been  satisfactorily  accounted  for,  and  which,  in  my  opinion, 
was  distributed  among  the  white  inhabitants  who  participated  in  this 
affair. 


90  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 


DUBUQUE,  ARKANSAS,  October  4,  1859. 

SIR:  Your  letter  of  instruction  of  the  23d  July  came  to  hand  the 
•9th  of  August.  On  the  next  day  I  set  out  on  my  mission  for  Fort 
Leaven  worth,  to  receive  the  little  children,  survivors  of  the  Mountain 
Meadow  massacre,  with  a  couple  of  two-horse  wagons  and  a  nurse. 
As  the  probable  time  of  their  arrival  was  between  the  10th  and  15th, 
I  proceeded  on  horseback  and  arrived  at  Fort  Leavenworth  on  the  22d, 
at  which  point  I  received  intelligence  from  the  department  that  the 
•children  were  not  expected  at  that  point  before  the  1st  or  5th  September. 
The  wagons  arrived  on  the  25th.  The  same  day  the  children  arrived 
from  Utah.  The  little  children  were  in  fine  health.  I  received  them, 
fifteen  in  number,  five  boys  and  ten  girls.  They  were  from  the  coun 
ties  of  Carroll,  Johnson,  and  Marion.  The  relations  and  friends  met 
them  at  Carrollton,  Arkansas,  the  place  of  destination,  on  the  15th 
September,  and  took  charge  of  those  unfortunate  children.  They 
enjoyed  fine  health  during  the  time  they  were  in  my  charge.  In  con 
sequence  of  protracted  sickness  which  I  have  had,  prevented  me  from 
making  out  my  report  at  an  earlier  day. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  most  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

WM.  C.  MITCHELL, 

Special  Agent. 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD,  Esq., 

Commissioner  Indian  Affairs,  Washington,  D.  C. 


DUBUQUE,  ARKANSAS,  October  4,  1859. 

SIR  :  Agreeably  to  your  letter  to  me,  stating  to  call  upon  Major 
Whiting  for  the  cooking  utensils,  together  with  the  tent  and  equippage, 
Major  Whiting  wrote  to  Mr.  Lee,  wagon-master,  to  deliver  to  me  all 
the  articles  received  from  Mr.  Jarvis,  belonging  to  the  government,  of 
the  train  that  transported  the  survivors  of  the  Mountain  Meadow  mas 
sacre.  Mr.  Lee  had  left  the  fort.  I  called  upon  Captain  Van  Pelt  at 
Fort  Leavenworth.  He  sent  a  young  man,  and  he  delivered  me  a  tent 
and  fixtures,  together  with  a  few  cooking  utensils.  I  wanted  to  give 
my  receipt  to  Captain  Van  Pelt  for  them,  and  he  said  they  were  not 
-worth  receipting  for.  I  sold  them  for  sixty-three  dollars'  and  forty 
cents,  which  I  have  placed  to  the  credit  of  the  department.  I  employed 
&n  additional  wagon  and  team  for  thirteen  days — Mr.  J.  McDowney. 
I  paid  the  nurses  from  Utah  and  hold  J.  Forney's  (superintendent  of 
Indian  affairs  of  Utah)  obligation,  which  will  be  seen  from  these 
Touchers. 

Yours,  most  respectfully, 

WM.  C.  MITCHELL, 

Special  Agent. 
A.  B.  GREENWOOD,  Esq., 

Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  Washington  City,  D.  C. 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  91 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  A/airs,  October  6,  1859. 

SIR  :  Keferring  to  the  letter  to  you  from  this  office  of  the  13th  of 
July,  wherein  you  were  advised  that  you  had  been  selected  to  proceed 
to  Fort  Leavenworth,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  charge  of  the  children 
who  survived  the  "  Mountain  Meadow"  massacre,  and  of  restoring 
them  to  their  friends  and  relatives,  and  to  subsequent  letters  upon  the 
same  subject,  and  fearing,  from  the  lapse  of  time  that  has  occurred 
since  the  office  heard  of  your  departure  from  Leavenworth  with  the 
children,  that  any  report  which  you  may  have  forwarded  has  miscarried, 
I  have  to  request  that  you  will  immediately  upon  reception  of  this 
letter  transmit  a  duplicate  of  such  report,  or  if,  from  any  cause,  you 
have  not  forwarded  a  report,  together  with  your  accounts,  that  you 
will  lose  no  time  in  so  doing,  as  it  is  very  important  that  all  accounts 
connected  with  the  subject  should  be  adjusted. 
Very  respectfully, 

C.  E.  MIX, 
Acting  Commissioner. 
WILLIAM  0.  MITCHELL,  Esq., 

Dubuque,  Marion  County^  Arkansas. 


FORT  LARAMIE,  November  2,  1859. 

DEAR  SIR  :  I  have  with  me  John  Calvin  Sorel  and  Ambrose  Miram 
Taggit,  the  two  boys  belonging  to  the  Mountain  Meadow  children,  who 
were  detained  last  summer,  by  request  of  Attorney  General  Wilson, 
to  give  evidence  in  a  trial  against  the  perpetrators  of  the  massacre. 

General  Wilson  has  since  left  the  Territory,  and,  in  my  opinion, 
there  is  but  a  slender  prospect  of  even  a  court  being  held  soon,  within 
a  sufficiently  reasonable  distance  to  insure  success,  where  the  massacre 
was  committed,  and  where  the  guilty  and  witnesses  are  living.  In 
view  of  these  considerations,  I  have  deemed  it  most  prudent  to  bring 
the  boys  with  me,  and  hope  to  get  in  safety  to  Fort  Leavenworth  in 
eight  or  ten  days  after  this  letter  reaches  you. 

Your  advice  of  the  disposition  of  these  children  is  respectfully  so 
licited.  Both  boys  give  a  very  interesting  account  of  the  massacre, 
and,  if  it  is  desirable,  I  will  bring  them  to  Washington. 

Ambrose  Miram  informs  me  that  he  has  no  near  relations.  I  am, 
consequently,  anxious  to  take  this  boy  into  my  family  and  do  for  him 
as  for  a  child. 

I  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  FOKNEY. 

Hon.  A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner  Indian  Affairs,  Washington ,  D.  C. 


92  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 


[Telegraph.] 

OFFICE  INDIAN  AFFAIRS,  November  30,  1859. 

Bring  the  boys  to  Washington. 

A.  B.  GKEENWOOD, 

Commissioner . 
J.  FORNEY,  Supt.  Indian  Affairs. 

Care  Smoot,.  Russell  &  Co.,  Leavenworth  City,  Kansas. 


[Telegraph.] 

OFFICE  INDIAN  AFFAIRS,  December  2,  1852. 
Bring  the  boys  here. 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner. 
J.  FORNEY,  Esq., 

Supt.  Indian  Affairs,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 


FORT  BRIDGER,  UTAH, 

December  4,  1859. 

SIR:  In  submitting  an  annual  report  of  the  condition  of  Indian 
affairs  in  Utah,  it  will  be  presumed  that  my  observations  have  been 
limited  to  some  particular  tribe  or  tribes,  or  to  certain  geographical 
boundaries,  as  others  have  been  engaged  in  the  service  in  this  Territory 
besides  myself;  but  the  peculiar  method  of  conducting  this  service  in 
this  superintendency  may  justify  a  more  general  view  of  the  subject. 

So  far  as  personal  observations  enable  me  to  speak,  there  is  less  dis 
content,  less  destitution,  and  a  greater  disposition  to  good  order  than 
I  have  known  since  the  commencement  of  my  official  services  in  the 
Territory.  These  observations,  however,  do  not  extend  to  those  distant 
bands  in  the  western  and  extreme  southern  portions  of  the  Territory, 
consequently  I  can  say  nothing  in  regard  to  them  upon  better  authority 
than  that  of  rumor.  It  is  consequently  reported  here  that  the  Snake 
Diggers  of  the  Humboldt  and  Goose  creek  countries  have  spent  the 
season,  as  usual,  in  murdering  and  robbing  the  emigrant  trains  en  route 
to  California  and  Oregon. 

In  my  report  of  September,  1856,  having  spent  a  great  portion  of 
the  spring  and  summer  seasons  among  them,  I  was  enabled  to  treat 
more  at  length  of  the  character,  condition,  and  state  of  feeling  of  the 
various  tribes  of  these  very  degraded  people,  to  which  I  must  refer  you 
for  particulars,  as  I  presume  their  leading  characteristics  have  not 
materially  changed  since  that  time. 

My  attention  during  the  season  has  been  directed  more  particularly 
to  the  different  bands  of  the  Utahs  and  Snakes  proper,  especially  the 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  93 

former,  with  whom  I  have  lived  almost  exclusively  since  the  first  of 
January  last,  and  devoted  myself  diligently  in  trying  to  induce  them 
to  cultivate  the  soil,  and  in  endeavoring  to  instill  into  their  benighted 
minds  a  knowledge  of  the  arts  of  peace. 

With  what  degree  of  success  these  efforts  have  "been  attended,  it  is, 
perhaps,  impossible  for  me  to  speak  at  present.  If,  in  any  permanent 
degree,  their  wandering  feet  have  been  diverted  from  the  paths  of  those 
natural  or  inborn  national  views,  which  point  with  so  much  certainty 
to  their  final  extermination,  it  is  to  the  future  that  we  must  look  for 
its  development.  With  a  majority  of  the  wild  tribes  it  is  useless  to 
expect  anything  like  a  permanent  change  in  the  present  generation. 
To  the  future,  then,  we  must  turn  our  anxious  thoughts,  and  realize, 
in  anticipation,  the  rewards  of  the  toilings  and  care  of  the  philanthropist. 
In  the  spring  of  1856,  I  established  those  Indian  settlements  for  the 
benefit  of  those  bands  of  the  Utah  and  Pah-vant  Indians,  who  claim 
the  lands  now  occupied  by  the  white  settlements.  At  each  of  these 
localities  I  have  erected  buildings  suitable  for  the  accommodation  of  a 
few  white  laborers,  and  for  the  storing  of  the  crops,  farming  imple 
ments,  &c.,  and  assisted  the  chiefs  and  principal  men  in  building 
suitable  huts  for  themselves  and  families. 

During  the  present  year  a  small  band  of  very  degraded  Utahs, 
known  as  the  Sanpitches,  have  been  located  on  the  headwaters  of 
Sanpitch  creek,  and  also  a  small  band  of  Utahs  and  Piedes,  under  a 
chief  named  Ammon,  on  Beaver  creek,  in  Beaver  county;  the  latter, 
however,  with  but  little  trouble  or  expense,  except  to  supply  the  chief 
with  a  yoke  of  cattle  to  plow  his  land  with. 

For  an  estimate  of  the  number  of  acres  had  under  cultivation  at  each 
of  these  settlements  this  season,  I  must  refer  to  my  letter  of  the  30th 
June,  to  the  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  a  copy  of  which  is  here 
with  transmitted. 

No  further  improvements  have  been  made  since  that  time,  and  only 
so  much  white  labor  has  been  employed  as  appeared  indispensable  to 
assist  the  natives  in  maturing  and  harvesting  their  abundant  crops, 
an  estimate  of  which  is  also  transmitted  herewith,  together  with  a  list 
of  the  property  at  each  of  these  settlements,  with  an  estimate  of  the 
value  of  the  same. 

The  amount  of  grain,  vegetables,  and  forage  produced  at  these  set 
tlements  this  season,  is  deemed  amply  sufficient,  not  only  to  supply 
the  wants  of  those  bands  who  have  made  permanent  abodes  thereon, 
but  also  to  furnish  the  means  of  subsistence  temporarily  for  the  more 
populous  bands  outside  of  the  white  settlements,  who  are  occasionally 
reduced  to  the  most  extreme  state  of  destitution,  and  whose  annual 
visits  among  the  white  inhabitants  have  hitherto  been  a  source  of  great 
trouble  and  expense.  One  of  these  pilgrimages  was  made  into  the 
Utah  country  this  season,  by  those  bands  of  the  Utahs  who  claim  the 
extensive  country  .east  of  the  Wahsatch  mountains  as  their  home. 

These  straying  creatures  had  evidently  two  objects  in  their  visit,  first, 
to  search  for  food  ;  second,  to  see  if  all  they  had  heard  of  their  brethren 
in  the  valley  having  gone  to  work,  and  had  plenty  to  eat,  were  true. 
And  though  they  appeared  agreeably  surprised  to  witness  with  their 
own  eyes,  at  least  in  part,  the  truth  of  what  they  had  heard,  their  visit 


94  MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS. 

was  not  by  any  means  a  pleasant  one  to  myself.  For  it  not  only  re 
tarded  the  progress  of  our  work,  by  the  renewal  of  vicious  and  evil 
practises  among  the  boys  about  the  farms,  but  their  constant  and 
pressing  importunities  for  the  means  of  subsistence,  with  which  it  was- 
almost  entirely  impossible  for  me  to  supply  them,  as  I  had  already 
exhausted  the  appropriation  for  the  fiscal  year.  It  is  due,  however,  to 
the  Mormon  community  to  admit,  that  these  wants  were  greatly  miti 
gated  by  the  liberal  contributions  of  flour,  and  other  articles  of  food, 
made  under  the  direction  of  their  Indian  missionary  enterprise,  whose 
agents  were  unusually  active  during  the  past  season. 

The  plan  of  operating  under  this  missionary  system  is  quite  peculiar 
to  Mormonism,  and  perhaps  the  most  objectionable  feature  in  it  is  their 
inordinate  desire  to  court  the  favor  and  alliance  of  the  natives,  to  the 
exclusion  and  prejudice  of  all  other  communities ;  and,  yielding  too 
far  to  this  disposition,  not  only  tempt  themselves  with  a  violation  of 
the  laws  of  the  country,  but  actually  tempt  the  Indians  to  take  advan 
tage  of  their  position,  which  they  seem  well  to  understand  and  appre 
ciate,  and  tax  them  with  a  thousand  annoyances  that  might  otherwise 
be  alleviated.  At  one  time  during  the  season,  I  was  inclined  to  think 
that,  with  a  little  improvement,  this  system  would  be  quite  sufficient 
to  subsist  the  Indians  without  the  necessity  of  any  exertions  on  their 
part  whatever. 

Unfortunately,  these  people  have  views  peculiar  to  themselves,  and 
interests  separate  and  distinct  from  all  other  communities,  and  which 
are  paramount  to  all  other  considerations,,  even  the  laws  of  the  country 
not  excepted ;  and  these  missionaries  have  objects  to  accomplish  for 
which  they  labor  continually,  regardless  of  costs,  how  far  soever  they 
may  fail  of  their  attainment. 

In  confirmation  of  these  assertions  a  mass  of  testimony  might  be 
adduced,  but  would  perhaps  be  superfluous  at  present.  The  tone  of 
the  accompanying  letter,  however,  by  one  of  those  missionaries,  is  not 
without  some  significance  upon  this  point.  Brigham  Young  has  fre 
quently  boasted  of  his  power  and  influence  among  the  Indians,  and 
the  daring  position  that  he  now  openly  assumes  towards  the  govern 
ment  and  people  of  the  United  States,  renders  argument  unnecessary 
to  show  the  bearing  of  that  influence.  Many  persons  who  have  passed 
to  and  from  California  through  Utah,  will  no  doubt  remember  the 
words  of  caution  which  the  Mormon  people  volunteer  to  offer  them, 
after  firstly  inquiring  what  route  they  expect  to  take:  "Look  out  t  the 
Indians  are  very  bad  on  that  road!"  Again:  " If  you  aint  careful 
the  Indians  will  clear  you  all  out  before  you  get  through !" 

There  is  a  degree  of  significance  in  such  expressions  which  I  shall 
endeavor  to  illustrate  by  the  insertion  of  a  few  incidents,  worthy  of 
more  public  notoriety. 

About  the  3d  of  February  last,  two  gentlemen,  John  Peltro  and 
John  Tobin,  reached  the  Indian  farm,  on  Spanish  Fork,  in  company 
with  several  other  persons,  en  route  for  California.  Mr.  Tobin  had 
recently  apostatized  from  the  church,  and  was  leaving  behind  a  young 
wife.  They  had  not  left  the  farm  till  two  other  persons  (Brigham 
Young,  jr.,  son  of  his  excellency,  and  a  young  man  named  Taylor) 
overtook  them,  and  all  remained  over  night  at  my  house,  and  all 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  95 

saddled  their  horses  to  leave  at  the  same  time  the  next  morning.  Mr. 
Peltro  and  his  party,  however,  started  first,  hut  in  a  familiar  tone 
asked  Young  and  Taylor  if  they  were  going  the  same  road.  I  heard 
Young  say,  in  a  low  voice,  "  We  will  overtake  you  soon  enough." 

Soon  after  these  parties  left  it  was  a  common  talk  among  the  people 
that  the  Indians  were  very  hostile  on  the  southern  road,  and,  as  if  to- 
forestall  the  facts,  it  was  remarked,  hefore  Mr.  Peltro  and  his  party 
had  time  to  reach  the  southern  settlements,  that  they  had  all  heen 
killed  by  the  Indians. 

On  the  seventh  day  of  March,  it  was  reported  by  the  mail  carrier 
that  they  had  been  attacked  some  time  in  the  latter  part  of  February, 
on  the  Rio  Santa  Clara,  by  a  band  of  the  Piede  Indians,  who  fired 
upon  them  in  the  night  while  asleep,  and  robbed  them  of  their  prop 
erty.  Tobin  was  severely  wounded  in  the  face,  a  ball  entering  his 
cheek  and  passing  out  under  his  ear  on  the  opposite  side.  Two  others 
of  the  party  were  also  wounded,  but  not  so  seriously.  It  is  also  re 
ported  by  the  mail  party,  that  their  blankets  were  literally  covered 
with  navy-sized  pistol  balls,  and  the  Utah  Indians  are  bold  in  assert 
ing  that  the  Piedes  had  nothing  to  do  with  it ;  and  this  opinion  is  also 
entertained  by  many  white  persons  in  the  valley  who  dare  not  speak 
out. 

On  the  tenth  day  of  September  last,  George  W.  Hancock,  a 
merchant  in  the  town  of  Payson,  came  to  the  Indian  settlements  to 
look  at  some  fat  cattle  that  I  proposed  selling,  and  in  course  of  con 
versation,  said  that  he  had  learned  that  the  California  emigrants  OIL 
the  southern  route  had  got  themselves  into  a  very  serious  difficulty 
with  the  Piedes,  who  had  given  them  to  understand  that  they  could 
not  pass  through  their  country,  and  on  attempting  to  disregard  this 
injunction,  found  themselves  surrounded  by  the  Indians,  and  compelled 
to  seek  shelter  behind  their  wagons.  He  said  he  had  learned  these 
facts  from  an  express  man,  who  passed  his  house  that  morning  with  a 
message  from  the  Indians  to  President  Young,  inquiring  of  him  what 
they  must  do  with  the  Americans.  The  express  man  had  been 
allowed  one  hundred  consecutive  hours  in  which  to  perform  the  trip 
of  nearly  three  hundred  miles  and  return,  which  Mr.  Hancock  felt 
confident  he  would  do.  On  the  day  following,  one  of  the  Utah  Indians, 
who  had  been  absent  for  some  days  gathering  pine  nuts,  west  of  the 
Sevier  lake,  returned,  and  said  that  the  Mormons  had  killed  all  the 
emigrants.  He  said  he  learned  this  news  from  a  band  of  the  Piedes, 
but  could  not  tell  when  the  fight  occurred,  or  how  many  had  been 
killed.  One  of  the  Utahs,  named  Spoods,  came  to  the  farm  on  the 
morning  of  the  14th,  having  traveled  all  night,  and  also  confirmed  the 
report  of  the  difficulty  between  the  emigrants  and  the  Piedes,  but  stated 
that  when  his  brother  Ammon  (chief,  who  lives  in  the  Piede  country,) 
went  to  Iron  county  to  persuade  the  Piedes  to  leave  the  road,  the  bishop 
told  him  that  he  had  no  business  with  the  Piedes,  and  had  better  leave; 
whereupon  an  altercation  arose  between  the  bishop  and  the  chief. 

Spoods  thought  that  the  Piedes  had  been  set  upon  the  emigrants  by 
the  Mormons. 

It  soon  began  to  be  talked  among  the  employes  at  the  farm  that  all 
the  emigrants  on  the  southern  road  had  been  killed  by  the  Piede 


96  MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS. 

Indians,  and  the  report  was  confirmed  by  several  other  persons  who 
visited  the  farm;  but  the  Indians  insisted  that  Mormons,  and  not 
Indians,  had  killed  the  Americans. 

This  affair  had  become  so  much  the  subject  of  conversation,  that,  on 
the  17th,  I  started  an  Indian  boy,  named  Pete,  who  speaks  the  English 
language  quite  fluently,  with  instructions  to  proceed  to  Iron  county 
on  a  secret  route,  and  to  learn  from  the  Piedes  if  possible,  and  also 
from  the  Utahs,  what  the  nature  of  the  difficulty  was,  and  who  were 
the  instigators  of  it.  He  returned  on  the  23d,  and  reported  that  he 
only  went  to  Ammon's  village,  in  Beaver  county,  where  he  met  a  large 
band  of  the  Piedes,  who  had  just  returned  from  Iron  county. 

They  acknowledged  having  participated  in  the  massacre  of  the  emi 
grants,  but  said  that  the  Mormons  persuaded  them  into  it.  They  said 
that  about  ten  or  eleven  sleeps  ago,  John  D.  Lee  came  to  this  village, 
and  told  them  that  Americans  were  very  bad  people,  and  always  made 
a  rule  to  kill  Indians  whenever  they  had  a  chance.  He  said,  also,  that 
they  had  often  killed  the  Mormons,  who  were  friends  to  the  Indians. 
He  then  prevailed  on  them  to  attack  the  emigrants,  who  were  then 
passing  through  the  country,  (about  one  hundred  in  number,)  and 
promised  them  that  if  they  were  not  strong  enough  to  whip  them,  the 
Mormons  would  help  them.  The  Piedes  made  the  attack,  but  were 
repulsed  on  three  different  occasions,  when  Lee  and  the  bishop  of  Cedar 
City,  with  a  number  of  Mormons,  approached  the  camp  of  the  emi 
grants,  under  pretext  of  trying  to  settle  the  difficulty,  and  with  lying, 
seductive  overtures,  succeeded  .in  inducing  the  emigrants  to  lay  down 
their  weapons  of  defense  and  admit  them  and  their  savage  allies  inside 
of  their  breastworks,  when  the  work  of  destruction  began,  and,  in  the 
language  of  the  unsophisticated  boy,  "  they  cut  all  of  their  throats  but 
afeiv  that  started  to  run  off,  and  the  Piedes  shot  them!"  He  also  stated 
that  there  were  some  fifteen  or  sixteen  small  children  that  were  not 
killed,  and  were  in  charge  of  the  bishop. 

Lee  and  the  bishop  took  all  the  stock,  (over  a  thousand  head,)  as 
also  a  large  amount  of  money.  The  Mormon  version  of  this  affair  is 
that  the  Piedes  went  to  the  emigrant  camp  and  asked  for  meat,  and 
they  gave  them  beef  with  strychnine  upon  it,  and  that  when  Brigham 
learned  this  fact,  he  sent  word  back  to  them  "to  do  ivith  the  Americans 
as  they  thought  proper."  But  I  have  not  yet  been  able  to  learn  that 
the  strynchnine  had  killed  any  of  the  Indians,  or  even  made  them 
sick.  A  report  also  reached  the  Indian  farm  on  Spanish  Fork,  about  the 
15th  of  September,  that  the  Snake  Indians,  under  a  chief  named  Little 
Soldier,  had  attacked  an  emigrant,  named  Squires,  from  Missouri,  who 
was  camped  near  Ogden,  and  driven  off  all  his  cattle,  (over  four  hun 
dred,)  together  with  all  the  mules  and  horses  belonging  to  him.  But 
the  Utahs  made  no  hesitation  in  asserting  that  the  Mormons  took  the 
stock  themselves,  and  that  they  had  learned  all  about  it  from  some 
Gosh-Utes  who  live  in  Rush  valley. 

In  confirmation  of  the  truth  of  this  report  of  the  Utahs,  I  learned  a 
few  days  ago  from  Ben  Simon,  a  Delaware  Indian,  who  lives  with  the 
Snakes  in  Weaber  valley,  that  sometime  in  the  early  part  of  September, 
Dirnie  B..  Huntington,  (interpreter  for  Brigham  Young.)  and  Bishop 
West,  of  Ogden,  came  to  the  Snake  village,  and  told  the  Indians  that 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  97 

Brigham  wanted  them  to  run  off  the  emigrants'  cattle,  and  if  they 
would  do  so  they  might  have  them  as  their  own.  Simon  says  the 
Snake  chiefs  consulted  him  about  the  propriety  of  undertaking  the 
theft,  and  he  advised  them  to  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  cattle,  which 
course  they  concluded  to  adopt,  hut  Huntington  and  West  insisted  on 
their  taking  the  stock  ;  whereupon  the  chiefs  told  them  that  they  did 
not  want  it,  and  if  the  Mormons  wanted  it  let  them  go  and  get  it  them 
selves,  and  so  the  interview  ended.  Simon  thinks  that  if  any  of  the 
Indians  had  anything  to  do  with  it  they  were  hired  by  the  Mormons, 
and  says  that  he  knows  that  the  Mormons  got  the  stock. 

It  may  be  objected  by  the  incredulous  that  those  charges  are  too 
vague  and  uncertain,  and  deficient  in  point  of  names  and  dates ;  in 
answer  to  which  I  would  say,  that  the  commission  of  these  crimes  need 
no  proof,  there  existence  being  generally  admitted.  The  only  ques 
tions  to  be  determined  are  who  instigated  them?  and  whose  testimony 
is  deserving  the  most  credit — the  Mormons  or  the  Indians?  And  under 
existing  circumstances  I  am  free  to  say  that  I  prefer  yielding  my 
credence  to  the  more  unsophisticated.  I  have  frequently  been  told  by 
the  chiefs  of  the  Utahs,  that  Brigham  Young  was  trying  to  bribe  them 
to  join  in  rebellion  against  the  United  States  by  offering  them  guns, 
ammunition,  and  blankets,  on  condition  that  they  would  assist  in 
opposing  the  advance  of  the  United  States  troops  into  the  Territory,  and 
he  has  not  only  made  these  overtures  by  his  agents,  but  has  at  sundry 
times  made  them  in  person.  How  far  he  may  have  succeeded  in  his 
plots  of  treason,  at  the  expense  of  the  government,  may  not  as  yet  be 
fully  known  and  understood,  but  one  thing  is  certain,  that  the  more 
powerful  tribes  of  the  Utahs  and  Snakes  have  so  far  resisted  all  the 
allurements  that  have  been  offered  them  and  kept  themselves  untram- 
ineled  by  this  unholy  alliance,  and  I  am  proud  to  say  that  they  mani 
fest  no  inclination  whatever  to  participate  in  it. 

And  this  fact  has  no  doubt  been  a  source  of  disappointment  to  this 
ex  officio  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  as  he  persists  in  styling 
himself,  and  invoked  upon  my  head  a  series  of  persecutions,  which  ran 
so  high,  at  one  time,  that  the  destruction  of  the  Indian  settlement  on 
the  Spanish  Fork  (as  I  am  credibly  informed)  was  actually  resolved 
upon,  and  nothing,  perhaps,  but  the  fear  of  open  hostilities  with  the 
Indians  prevented  them  from  executing  their  resolution. 

Believing  that  I  have  maintained  my  position  among  them  for  the 
last  three  or  four  months  under  circumstances  of  the  most  extreme 
hazard  to  my  life,  I  determined  on  the  27th  day  of  September  last  to 
try  to  make  my  escape,  and  seek  protection  with  the  army  then  en 
route  for  Utah,  and  for  an  account  of  the  particulars  of  that  event  I 
must  refer  to  my  letter  of  the  24th  October  to  Colonel  A.  S.  Johnston; 
a  copy  of  which  is  also  transmitted  herewith. 

The  policy  which  I  deemed  advisable  to  pursue  with  the  Indians  in 
this  Territory,  so  far  as  they  have  been  placed  under  my  control,  has 
incurred  heavier  disbursements  than  the  appropriations  by  Congress 
would  enable  the  Commissioner  to  liquidate,  and  consequently  exposed 
myself  to  the  reproach  of  being  regarded  as  an  injudicious  public 
officer,  and  unworthy  of  the  public  trust. 
Ex.  Doc.  42 7 


96  MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS. 

Indians,  and  the  report  was  confirmed  by  several  other  persons  who 
visited  the  farm ;  hut  the  Indians  insisted  that  Mormons,  and  not 
India-ns,  had  killed  the  Americans. 

This  affair  had  hecome  so  much  the  subject  of  conversation,  that,  on 
the  17th,  I  started  an  Indian  boy,  named  Pete,  who  speaks  the  English 
language  quite  fluently,  with  instructions  to  proceed  to  Iron  county 
on  a  secret  route,  and  to  learn  from  the  Piedes  if  possible,  and  also 
from  the  Utahs,  what  the  nature  of  the  difficulty  was,  and  who  were 
the  instigators  of  it.  He  returned  on  the  23d,  and  reported  that  he 
only  went  to  Ammon's  village,  in  Beaver  county,  where  he  met  a  large 
band  of  the  Piedes,  who  had  just  returned  from  Iron  county. 

They  acknowledged  having  participated  in  the  massacre  of  the  emi 
grants,  but  said  that  the  Mormons  persuaded  them  into  it.  They  said 
that  about  ten  or  eleven  sleeps  ago,  John  D.  Lee  came  to  this  village, 
and  told  them  that  Americans  were  very  bad  people,  and  always  made 
a  rule  to  kill  Indians  whenever  they  had  a  chance.  He  said,  also,  that 
they  had  often  killed  the  Mormons,  who  were  friends  to  the  Indians. 
He  then  prevailed  on  them  to  attack  the  emigrants,  who  were  then 
passing  through  the  country,  (about  one  hundred  in  number,)  and 
promised  them  that  if  they  were  not  strong  enough  to  whip  them,  the 
Mormons  would  help  them.  The  Piedes  made  the  attack,  but  were 
repulsed  on  three  different  occasions,  when  Lee  and  the  bishop  of  Cedar 
City,  with  a  number  of  Mormons,  approached  the  camp  of  the  emi 
grants,  under  pretext  of  trying  to  settle  the  difficulty,  and  with  lying, 
seductive  overtures,  succeeded  .in  inducing  the  emigrants  to  lay  down 
their  weapons  of  defense  and  admit  them  and  their  savage  allies  inside 
of  their  breastworks,  when  the  work  of  destruction  began,  and,  in  the 
language  of  the  unsophisticated  boy,  "  they  cut  all  of  their  throats  but 
a  few  that  started  to  run  off,  and  the  Piedes  shot  them!"  He  also  stated 
that  there  were  some  fifteen  or  sixteen  small  children  that  were  not 
killed,  and  were  in  charge  of  the  bishop. 

Lee  and  the  bishop  took  all  the  stock,  (over  a  thousand  head,)  as 
also  a  large  amount  of  money.  The  Mormon  version  of  this  affair  is 
that  the  Piedes  went  to  the  emigrant  camp  and  asked  for  meat,  and 
they  gave  them  beef  with  strychnine  upon  it,  and  that  when  Brigham 
learned  this  fact,  he  sent  word  back  to  them  "to  do  ivith  the  Americans 
as  they  thought  proper. ' '  But  I  have  not  yet  been  able  to  learn  that 
the  strynchnine  had  killed  any  of  the  Indians,  or  even  made  them 
sick.  A  report  also  reached  the  Indian  farm  on  Spanish  Fork,  about  the 
15th  of  September,  that  the  Snake  Indians,  under  a  chief  named  Little 
Soldier,  had  attacked  an  emigrant,  named  Squires,  from  Missouri,  who 
was  camped  near  Ogden,  and  driven  off  all  his  cattle,  (over  four  hun 
dred,)  together  with  all  the  mules  and  horses  belonging  to  him.  But 
the  Utahs  made  no  hesitation  in  asserting  that  the  Mormons  took  the 
stock  themselves,  and  that  they  had  learned  all  about  it  from  some 
Gosh-Utes  who  live  in  Rush  valley. 

In  confirmation  of  the  truth  of  this  report  of  the  Utahs,  I  learned  a 
few  days  ago  from  Ben  Simon,  a  Delaware  Indian,  who  lives  with  the 
Snakes  in  Weaber  valley,  that  sometime  in  the  early  part  of  September, 
Dirnie  B..  Huntington,  (interpreter  for  Brigham  Young.)  and  Bishop 
West,  of  Ogden,  came  to  the  Snake  village,  and  told  the  Indians  that 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  97 

Brigham  wanted  them  to  run  off  the  emigrants'  cattle,  and  if  they 
would  do  so  they  might  have  them  as  their  own.  Simon  says  the 
Snake  chiefs  consulted  him  about  the  propriety  of  undertaking  the 
theft,  and  he  advised  them  to  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  cattle,  which 
course  they  concluded  to  adopt,  hut  Huntington  and  West  insisted  on 
their  taking  the  stock  ;  whereupon  the  chiefs  told  them  that  they  did 
not  want  it,  and  if  the  Mormons  wanted  it  let  them  go  and  get  it  them 
selves,  and  so  the  interview  ended.  Simon  thinks  that  if  any  of  the 
Indians  had  anything  to  do  with  it  they  were  hired  by  the  Mormons, 
and  says  that  he  knows  that  the  Mormons  got  the  stock. 

It  may  be  objected  by  the  incredulous  that  those  charges  are  too 
vague  and  uncertain,  and  deficient  in  point  of  names  and  dates ;  in 
answer  to  which  I  would  say,  that  the  commission  of  these  crimes  need 
no  proof,  there  existence  being  generally  admitted.  The  only  ques 
tions  to  be  determined  are  who  instigated  them?  and  whose  testimony 
is  deserving  the  most  credit — the  Mormons  or  the  Indians?  And  under 
existing  circumstances  I  am  free  to  say  that  I  prefer  yielding  my 
credence  to  the  more  unsophisticated.  I  have  frequently  been  told  by 
the  chiefs  of  the  Utahs,  that  Brigham  Young  was  trying  to  bribe  them 
to  join  in  rebellion  against  the  United  States  by  offering  them  guns, 
ammunition,  and  blankets,  on  condition  that  they  would  assist  in 
opposing  the  advance  of  the  United  States  troops  into  the  Territory,  and 
he  has  not  only  made  these  overtures  by  his  agents,  but  has  at  sundry 
times  made  them  in  person.  How  far  he  may  have  succeeded  in  his 
plots  of  treason,  at  the  expense  of  the  government,  may  not  as  yet  be 
fully  known  and  understood,  but  one  thing  is  certain,  that  the  more 
powerful  tribes  of  the  Utahs  and  Snakes  have  so  far  resisted  all  the 
allurements  that  have  been  offered  them  and  kept  themselves  untram- 
ineled  by  this  unholy  alliance,  and  I  am  proud  to  say  that  they  mani 
fest  no  inclination  whatever  to  participate  in  it. 

And  this  fact  has  no  doubt  been  a  source  of  disappointment  to  this 
ex  officio  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  as  he  persists  in  styling 
himself,  and  invoked  upon  my  head  a  series  of  persecutions,  which  ran 
so  high,  at  one  time,  that  the  destruction  of  the  Indian  settlement  on 
the  Spanish  Fork  (as  I  am  credibly  informed)  was  actually  resolved 
upon,  and  nothing,  perhaps,  but  the  fear  of  open  hostilities  with  the 
Indians  prevented  them  from  executing  their  resolution. 

Believing  that  I  have  maintained  my  position  among  them  for  the 
last  three  or  four  months  under  circumstances  of  the  most  extreme 
hazard  to  my  life,  I  determined  on  the  27th  day  of  September  last  to 
try  to  make  my  escape,  and  seek  protection  with  the  army  then  en 
route  for  Utah,  and  for  an  account  of  the  particulars  of  that  event  I 
must  refer  to  my  letter  of  the  24th  October  to  Colonel  A.  S.  Johnston; 
a  copy  of  which  is  also  transmitted  herewith. 

The  policy  which  I  deemed  advisable  to  pursue  with  the  Indians  in 
this  Territory,  so  far  as  they  have  been  placed  under  my  control,  has 
incurred  heavier  disbursements  than  the  appropriations  by  Congress 
would  enable  the  Commissioner  to  liquidate,  and  consequently  exposed 
myself  to  the  reproach  of  being  regarded  as  an  injudicious  public 
officer,  and  unworthy  of  the  public  trust. 
Ex.  Doc.  42 7 


98  MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS. 

But  of  this  I  have  no  disposition  at  present  to  complain,  as  I  have 
ever  admitted  the  tenacity  with  which  the  administrators  of  the 
government  adhere  to  rules  of  economy  in  disposing  of  the  national 
treasure.  Neither  have  I  any  particular  desire  to  assume  responsibil 
ities,  hut  the  conviction  that  the  service  demands  my  utmost  exertions 
impressed  itself  upon  my  mind  with  a  force  too  powerful  for  me  to 
resist,  consequently  I  have  maintained  this  policy  under  circumstances 
of  the  most  extreme  adversity,  and  more  recently,  of  danger  to  my 
life ;  yet  I  am  gratified  to  say  that  I  now  realize  all  that  I  could  rea 
sonably  have  anticipated,  and  in  the  midst  of  rebellion  and  treason  on 
the  part  of  the  white  population  of  Utah,  I  am  able  to  present  the 
major  portion  of  the  poor  natives  with  hands  unspotted  and  uncon- 
taminated  by  this  cursed  evil.  Having  realized  in  this  fact  the  con 
summation  of  my  fondest  hopes  and  only  aim,  I  would  respectfully 
say,  in  conclusion,  that  I  have  personally  no  further  inclination  to 
impose  my  services  upon  the  country. 

Respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

GARLAND  HURT, 

Indian  Agent,  Utah. 

Dr.  JACOB  FORNEY, 

Superintendent. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  December  7,  1859. 

SIR:  I  have  to  inform  you  that  your  account  for  transporting  fifteen 
of  the  surviving  children  of  the  Mountain  Meadow  massacre,  from 
Leavenworth,  Kansas  Territory,  to  Carrollton,  Arkansas,  transmitted 
to  this  office,  as  per  your  letter  of  the  4th  of  October  last,  has  been 
examined  and  allowed,  and  this  day  referred  to  the  Second  Auditor  for 
adjustment,  and  when  settled  the  amount  found  to  be  due  you  will  be 
forwarded  to  you  from  the  Treasury  Department. 
Very  respectfully, 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commission. 
WM.  C.  MITCHELL,  Esq., 

Dubuque,  Arkansas. 


[Telegraph.] 

WASHINGTON,  December  10. 

SIR:  You  will  come  on  with  the  boys  immediately,  or  send  them,  as 
there  is  an  opportunity  of  sending   them  to  Arkansas   at  a   small 
expense,  if  brought  at  once. 
Respectfully, 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner. 
Dr.  JACOB  FORNEY, 

Kittaning,  Armstrong  County,  Pennsylvania. 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  99 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  December  12,  1859. 

SIR:  The  Secretary  of  the  Interior  has  this  day  heen  requested  to 
cause  to  be  remitted  to  you  the  sum  of  $142  63,  balance  found  due  in 
the  settlement  of  your  account. 

Superintendent  Forney  has  just  reached  here  with  the  two  boys, 
survivors  of  the  Mountain  Meadow  massacre,  who  were  retained  in 
Utah  as  witnesses ;  and  I  have  availed  of  the  presence  of  Major  John 
Henry,  who  will  leave  to-morrow  for  Arkansas,  to  take  charge  of  these 
boys  as  far  as  Fayetteville,  and  there  turn  them  over  to  A.  M.  Wilson, 
Esq.,  United  States  attorney,  who  has  been  requested  to  cause  the  boys 
to  be  conveyed  to  Carrollton  and  delivered  to  you,  whence  you  will 
repair  and  deliver  them  to  their  relations. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner. 
WILLIAM  C.  MITCHELL,  Esq., 

Crooked  Creek,  Carroll  County,  Arkansas. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  December  13,  1859. 

SIR:  The  two  boys,  survivors  of  the  Mountain  Meadow  massacre, 
who  were  retained  in  Utah  Territory  as  witnesses,  reached  this  city 
yesterday  in  charge  of  Superintendent  Forney,  and  I  have  determined, 
as  communicated  to  you  verbally  some  days  since,  to  avail  of  your 
contemplated  return  to  Arkansas  to  take  charge  of  these  boys  as  far  as 
Fayetteville,  and  there  turn  them  over  to  A.  M.  Wilson,  United 
States  attorney,  who  has  been  requested  to  cause  them  to  be  conveyed 
to  Carrollton  and  delivered  to  W.  C.  Mitchell,  Esq.,  to  be  delivered  to 
their  relations.  Mr.  Mitchell  has  also  been  written  to  on  the  subject. 
You  will  be  allowed  ten  cents  per  mile  for  each  mile  traveled,  and 
three  dollars  per  day  for  any  necessary  detention  on  the  route,  (the 
per  diem  to  commence  with  the  llth  instant.)  For  the  expenses  of 
the  boys,  you  will,  when  practicable,  take  vouchers,  and  when  not 
practicable  to  do  so,  your  certificate  on  honor  will  be  sufficient. 

Mr.  Lammond,  disbursing  agent  of  the  department,  has  been  re 
quested  to  pay  to  you  $150,  for  which  you  will  be  held  accountable, 
under  appropriation,  "For  defraying  the  expenses  of  the  recovery  and 
the  restoration  to  their  homes  of  the  children  surviving  the  massacre 
by  Indians  of  the  emigrant  trains  from  Arkansas  in  the  fall  of  1857. 

You  will  turn  over  to  Mr.  Wilson  such  sums  as  may  be  necessary  to 
pay  the  expenses  of  the  boys  to  Carrollton,  taking  his  receipt  for  the 
amount,  which  will  be  a  voucher  in  your  account. 
Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner. 
Major  JOHN  HENRY, 

Of  Arkansas,  Present. 


100  MASSACRE    AT   MOUNTAIN    MEADOWS. 


C. 

PROVO  CITY,  UTAH  TERRITORY, 

March  28,  1859. 

SIR:  On  the  4th  of  this  month  I  had  the  honor  of  addressing  a 
communication  to  you  in  regard  to  the  Mountain  Meadow  massacre, 
which  occurred  in  the  southern  part  of  this  Territory  in  the  month  of 
September,  1857. 

Since  writing  that  letter,  I  have  had  an  opportunity  in  this  city  of 
conversing  with  persons  who  were  in  that  vicinity  at  the  time  of  the 
massacre;  the  affidavit  of  one  of  whom,  Henry  Higgins,  and  the  affi 
davit  of  the  other,  who  is  now  with  Dr.  Forney,  I  will  take  upon  his 
return. 

The  statements  of  these  persons  go  to  show  that  there  were  other 
persons  engaged  in  that  massacre  besides  Indians,  and  these  other 
persons,  it  is  alleged,  were  Mormons  inhabiting  that  section  of  the 
Territory. 

I  am  now,  and  have  been  since  my  arrival  in  the  Territory,  endea 
voring  to  obtain  all  the  reliable  information  I  can  in  regard  to  the 
massacre,  and  the  parties  said  to  have  been  engaged  in  it ;  and  I  shall 
continue  to  do  so  until  the  matter  shall  be  brought  to  a  public  investi 
gation  and  trial. 

Dr.  Forney,  the  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  is  now  en  route 
for  that  part  of  the  Territory,  and  he  will,  on  his  return  to  Great 
Salt  Lake  City,  furnish  me  with  whatever  information  he  can  gain 
from  Indians  and  others  as  I  have  requested  of  him. 

The  only  information  like  evidence  which  I  have  been  able  to  get, 
so  far,  connecting  the  Indians,  or  Mormons,  or  any  other  persons,  with 
the  massacre  are  the  statements  of  the  persons  above  referred  to.  The 
substance  of  the  affidavit  of  Higgins  is,  that  he  was  living  at  Cedar 
City  at  the  time;  and  one  evening,  some  two  or  three  days  before  the 
massacre,  he  saw  about  two  dozen  armed  men  leave  Cedar  City,  in 
wagons  and  on  horseback,  in  the  direction  of  the  Mountain  Meadows. 
The  Mountain  Meadows  are  about  thirty-five  miles  in  a  south-westerly 
direction  from  Cedar  City.  These  men  were  absent  some  three  or  four 
days;  but  he  has  no  positive  knowledge  of  where  they  were.  Shortly 
after  he  heard  of  the  massacre,  which  information  he  obtained  from 
Indians.  He  saw  some  cattle  and  other  property  in  the  possession  of 
persons  in  Cedar  City  and  Harmony,  which  he  believed  had  belonged 
to  the  murdered  emigrants.  He  saw  the  emigrant  train  when  it  passed 
through  Cedar  City ;  but  was  at  the  time  six  or  seven  miles  off,  herding 
cattle. 

The  United  States  district  court  for  the  second  judicial  district,  Judge 
Cradlebaugh  presiding,  met  in  Provo  on  the  8th  instant ;  and  the  judge, 
among  other  matters,  made  mention  of  the  Mountain  Meadow  massacre 
as  a  matter  for  their  investigation ;  but  the  grand  jury  were  discharged 
on  the  21st  instant,  and  their  time  having  been  fully  occupied  with 
other  murder  cases,  they  had  no  time  to  investigate  the  Mountain 
Meadow  massacre. 


MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS.  101 

The  Mountain  Meadows  are  300  miles  south  from  this  place,  and  350 
miles  from  Great  Salt  Lake  City.  In  view  of  the  great  distance,  and 
the  difficulty  of  getting  witnesses,  I  think  that  the  best  method  of 
promptly  and  efficiently  investigating  and  trying  this  case  would  he  for 
a  court  to  he  held  in  that  vicinity  for  that  special  purpose,  or  for  a  judge 
to  go  down  there,  and,  in  the  capacity  of  a  committing  magistrate, 
make  all  the  necessary  preliminary  investigations.  I  have  made  these 
suggestions  to  Judge  Cradlehaugh,  who  is  now  acting  as  a  committing 
magistrate  here  in  other  cases,  and  he  is  also  of  opinion,  and  so  ex 
pressed  himself  to  me,  that  that  is  the  proper  course,  to  make  the 
investigations  at  the  scene  of  the  massacre,  or  as  near  there  as  prac 
ticable. 

In  the  meantime,  I  shall  continue  to  collect  all  the  facts  I  can  on  the 
subject,  and,  if  desired,  I  will  transmit  the  same  to  your  department, 
or  the  substance  thereof. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

ALEXANDER  WILSON, 
United  States  Attorney  for  Utah  Territory. 

Hon.  JACOB  THOMPSON, 

Secretary  of  the  Interior ,  Washington  City. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 

Washington,  April  25,  1859. 

SIR  :  In  reply  to  your  letter  of  the  4th  ultimo  I  have  to  advise  you 
that  measures  have  been  taken  to  return  to  their  homes  the  children 
who  survived  the  massacre  referred  to  through  the  Indian  branch  of 
the  public  service. 

In  respect  to  the  investigations  which  you  propose,  it  is  hoped  that 
you  will  exert  yourself  within  the  line  of  your  official  duties  to  bring 
the  murderers  to  justice.  The  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs  will 
doubtless  be  able  to  furnish  you  with  all  the  information  that  can  be 
obtained,  and  upon  this  it  will  be  your  duty  to  act. 
I  am,  sir,  &c., 

J.  THOMPSON, 

Secretary. 
A.  WILSON,  Esq., 

U.  S.  Attorney,  Great  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah  Territory. 


GREAT  SALT  LAKE  CITY,  UTAH  TERRITORY, 

March  4,  1859. 

SIR:  I  have  the  honor  of  transmitting  to  you  a  statement  concerning- 
the  massacre  of  certain  emigrants  who  were  passing  through  this  Ter 
ritory  in  the  month  of  September,  1857,  for  California.  They  were 
mostly,  if  not  all,  from  the  State  of  Arkansas,  and  were  well  provided 
with  stock,  wagons,  &c.,  to  make  permanent  settlements  in  their  pro 
posed  new  home. 


102  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 

The  massacre,  it  appears,  is  laid  to  the  charge  of  the  Indians,  to 
whom,  it  is  said,  they  became  obnoxious  while  passing  through  their 
settlements  in  the  southern  part  of  this  Territory.  The  first  attack 
was  made  on  them  on  the  8th  of  September,  at  which  time  a  number 
were  killed  and  wounded.  Shortly  after,  either  on  that  or  the  next 
day,  the  emigrants  made  a  corral  with  their  wagons,  which  afforded 
protection  and  enabled  them  to  keep  at  bay  their  enemies ;  but,  owing 
to  the  absence  of  water  in  the  corral,  they  were  soon  reduced  to  great 
distress  and  suffering. 

After  remaining  in  this  condition  for  several  days,  being  continually 
surrounded  by  their  enemies,  and  several  having  been  killed  in  the 
attempt  to  get  water,  it  appears  that  an  offer  was  made  to  spare  their 
lives  and  let  them  go  on  their  journey  if  they  would  give  up  their 
arms  and  property. 

This  proposition,  it  appears,  was  accepted  because,  for  the  want  of 
water,  they  were  reduced  to  the  last  extremity.  But  after  they  had 
parted  with  their  arms  and  were  marching  out  of  the  corral  they 
were  treacherously  murdered,  every  living  soul,  all  cut  off,  save  only 
seventeen  children,  ranging  from  3  to  7  years  of  age,  but  who  were 
unable  to  tell  their  names  or  kindred.  There  were  119  killed.  A 
more  cold-blooded  butchery  I  have  never  heard  of. 

The  massacre  occurred  on  what  is  called  the  Mountain  Meadows, 
about  300  miles  south  of  Great  Salt  Lake  City,  and  near  the  Santa 
Clara  road  to  California,  within  the  limits  of  this  Territory. 

Through  the  humane  exertions  of  Dr.  Forney,  the  superintendent 
of  Indian  affairs,  the  children  that  were  saved  have  been  recovered 
from  the  Indians,  and  he  has  them  in  his  charge,  kindly  cared  for. 

His  excellency  Governor  Gumming  and  Dr.  Forney  have  been,  since 
their  arrival  in  this  Territory,  diligently  inquiring  into  the  circum 
stances  of  this  horrible  massacre,  with  a  view,  if  possible,  to  ascertain 
the  truth  concerning  it,  and  the  cause  which  prompted  as  well  as  the 
parties  engaged  in  it,  but  as  yet  they  have  been  unable  to  obtain  any 
clew,  either  satisfactory  or  of  a  kind  to  warrant  proceedings  of  a  pub 
lic  nature. 

Dr.  Forney,  in  the  course  of  his  official  duties,  will  visit,  in  a  few 
days,  the  region  of  country  and  the  place  at  which  the  massacre  oc 
curred,  and  he  will  make  every  effort  in  his  power  to  ascertain  the  real 
facts  in  the  case.  As  yet,  his  inquiries  as  well  as  those  of  the  gov 
ernor  have  been  conducted  with  secrecy,  as  this  is  thought  to  be  the 
best  and  only  method  of  securing  reliable  information,  or,  at  least,  a 
sufficient  starting  point  for  public  investigation. 

A  mystery  seems  to  shroud  this  wholesale  butchery,  but  I  entertain 
the  hope  that  an  avenging  God  will  speedily  bring  to  light  the  perpe 
trators. 

My  object  in  writing  to  you,  as  I  have  no  doubt  you  have  been 
officially  informed  of  the  massacre  from  other  sources  previous  to  my 
arrival  in  the  Territory,  is  to  ask  for  instructions  as  to  how  I  shall 
proceed  and  what  I  shall  do  in  the  matter.  It  is  such  a  terrible  affair, 
and  its  ramifications  may  involve  such  serious  consequences,  that  I  de 
sire,  if  it  is  the  wish  of  the  government  that  I  should,  in  my  official 
capacity,  investigate  it,  to  proceed  according  to  instructions  from  your 


MASSACRE   AT  MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  103 

department  or  from  the  proper  source  at  Washington,  should  it  be  de 
termined  not  to  come  under  your  official  cognizance. 
May  I  respectfully  ask  for  an  early  reply. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

ALEXANDEK  WILSON, 
U.  S.  Attorney  for  the  Territory  of  Utah. 
Hon.  JACOB  THOMPSON, 

Secretary  of  the  Interior,  Washington  City. 


104  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 


D. 

List  of  papers  from  the  office  of  the  Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs, 
relative  to  massacres  in  Utah  subsequent  to  that  of  Mountain 
Meadows. 

1.  Letter  and  accompanying  papers  from  J.  Forney,  superintendent, 

&c.,  to  Commissioner  A.  B.  Greenwood,  dated  August  2,  1859. 

2.  Letter  from  J.  Forney  to  Commissioner  A.  B.  Greenwood,  August 

10,  1859. 

3.  Letter  and  accompanying  papers  from  F.  Dodge  to  Commissioner 

Greenwood,  September  3,  1859. 

4.  Letter  from  Commissioner  Greenwood  to  J.  Forney,  September  6, 

1859. 

5.  Letter  from  Commissioner  Greenwood  to  J.  Forney,  September  8, 

1859. 

6.  Letter  from  Hon.  D.  R.  Eckles  to  Hon.  Secretary  of  the  Interior, 

September  23,  1859,  with  accompanying  papers. 

*7.  Extract  from  Superintendent  Forney's  report  of  September   29, 
1859. 

8.  Letter  from  D.  K.  Eckles  to  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  October  25, 

1859,  with  accompanying  papers. 

9.  Report  of  F.  W.  Lander,  Superintendent,  &c.,  to  the  Commissioner 

of  Indian  Affairs,  dated  February  18,  1860. 


SUPERINTENDENT'S  OFFICE,  UTAH, 
Great  Salt  Lake  City,  August  2, 1859. 

SIR:  Inclosed  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  received  yesterday  evening,  in 
relation  to  supposed  Indian  depredations  several  hundred  miles  north 
of  this  city,  on  the  California  road ;  also,  a  copy  of  my  letter  to  his 
excellency  Governor  Cumming,  on  the  same  subject. 

I  will  leave  in  a  few  hours  for  Box  Elder  and  such  other  points  as 
may  be  deemed  advisable. 

I  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  FORNEY, 

Superintendent  Indian  Affairs  U.  T. 
Hon.  A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  Washington,  D.  C. 


BRIGHAM  CITY,  Box  ELDER  COUNTY,  U.  T. , 

August  1,  1859. 

DEAR  SIR:  Agreeable  to  your  request  that  I  should  inform  you 
whenever  any  movement  of  the  Indians  took  place,  of  any  importance, 
in  this  part  of  your  superintendency,  I  wish  to  say  to  you  that  some 
Indians  came  in  yesterday  from  the  north,  with  reports  that  some 
whites  had  been  murdered  some  200  miles  north  of  this,  on  the  Cali 
fornia  road.  The  reports  were  so  vague  and  contradictory  that  at  first 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  105 

I  did  not  consider  it  worthy  of  credence ;  but  having  afterwards  learned 
that  some  Indians  had  in  their  possession  some  horses,  mules,  oxen, 
and  other  property  unusual  for  them  to  traffic  in,  trying  to  trade  the 
same  to  citizens  in  the  suburbs  of  the  city,  I  thought  best  to  institute 
an  inquiry  in  reference  to  the  matter.  I  fear  the  report  is  too  true, 
though  there  is  much  contradiction  in  regard  to  the  circumstances  and 
extent  of  the  murder.  One  report  is,  that  two  Indians  entered  a  camp 
of  emigrants  to  do  some  trading,  and  were  killed  by  said  emigrants. 
The  Indians  then  gathered  their  forces  and  revenged  their  death  by 
killing  five  men  and  two  women  belonging  to  said  camp.  Other 
reports  make  the  number  of  the  whites  killed  more,  and  state  other 
causes  for  the  massacre. 

I  send  this  by  Mr.  Nichols,  bishop  of  this  settlement,  who  will  give 
you  further  particulars.  I  also  send  by  him  a  daguerreotype,  which 
has  been  obtained  from  the  Indians  by  one  of  our  citizens  and  given 
to  me  to  send  down  to  you  It  is  stated  by  the  Indians  to  belong  to 
some  of  the  murdered  party. 

Yours,  with  much  respect, 

SAMUEL  SMITH. 

Dr.  FORNEY,  Superintendent  Indian  Affairs. 


SUPERINTENDENT'S  OFFICE,  UTAH, 
Great  Salt  Lake  City,  August  2,  1859. 

SIR:  Inclosed  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  just  received.  The  bearer  of  the 
letter  gives  additional  information,  which,  with  the  letter,  leaves 
scarcely  a  doubt  but  that  an  emigrant  train  has  been  attacked,  and  a 
portion  or  all  murdered  by  Indians,  supposed  to  be  from  the  State  of 
Oregon.  It  is  said  the  murder  was  committed  near  the  Goose  Creek 
mountains. 

A  small  military  force  should  be  sent  north.  I  will  go  north 
to-morrow. 

I  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  FORNEY, 

Superintendent  Indian  Affairs  for  Utah. 
His  Excellency  A.  GUMMING, 

Governor  of  Utah. 


SUPERINTENDENT'S  OFFICE,  UTAH, 
Great  Salt  Lake  City,  August  10,  1859. 

SIR  :  I  returned  yesterday  morning  from  the  North,  where  I  men 
tioned  I  was  going  in  a  letter  to  you  by  last  mail,  to  ascertain  the 
correctness  of  a  supposed  massacre  near  the  Goose  Creek  mountains  of 
a  California  train.  Other  information  and  circumstances  in  addition 
to  that  herewith  inclosed  leave  no  doubt  in  my  mind  but  that  six  men 
and  one  woman  were  killed  and  six  men  and  two  women  wounded, 
several  of  the  men  it  is  supposed  mortally.  This  occurred  24th  July 
last  in  a  canon  on  Sublett's  cut-off,  fifteen  miles  from  Raft  river,  in 
Oregon,  by  Bannack  Indians  from  Oregon,  and  from  fifteen  to  twenty 


106  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 

Shoshonees,  belonging  to  four  bands  in  the  northern  part  of  this 
Territory.  Those  Shoshonee  Indians  were  evidently  participants,  as 
they  brought  horses,  mules,  and  cattle  to  the  Indian  encampment, 
adjacent  to  Brigham  City,  (sixty  miles  north  of  this  city,)  where  I  was 
last  Saturday  and  Sunday.  The  Indians  also  exhibited  Colt's  re 
volvers,  a  few  watches  and  jewelry ,  and  gold  coin.  I  was  informed 
that  the  settlers  refused  to  purchase  any  of  the  property.  A  very 
small  number  of  the  many  passing  emigrants  bought  a  very  few  arti- 
ticles  of  those  Indians,  it  is  said.  The  Indians  evidently  had  spies  out, 
who  communicated  my  movements  to  their  camp,  which  was  suddenly 
broken  up  the  day  before  my  arrival  at  Brigham  City. 

The  place  where  the  massacre  was  committed  is  about  140  miles 
from  that  city,  and  the  distance,  and  no  apparent  necessity,  and  so 
much  to  do  elsewhere,  prevented  my  visiting  the  spot.  The  wounded, 
and  those  unhurt,  and  the  property  that  was  left,  were  taken  in  charge 
by  another  train,  and  were  proceeding  towards  California.  It  is  too 
true,  I  fear,  that  two  Indians  were  shot  by  the  train  in  question.  At 
all  events,  this  is  the  first  train  that  has  been  in  any  manner  molested 
this  season,  so  far  as  I  can  learn,  notwithstanding  a  very  large  num 
ber  have  passed  over  the  roads — small  and  large  companies,  rich  and 
poor.  I  passed  sixteen  trains  day  before  yesterday  in  twenty  miles 
travel. 

Inclosed  is  a  copy  of  a  notice  I  have  deemed  it  expedient  to  issue, 
which  will,  I  trust,  soon  cause  the  delivery  up  of  the  criminals.  The 
bands  to  which  the  guilty  belong  have  gone  north  beyond  the  settle 
ments. 

A  company  of  dragoons  passed  through  this  city  to-day  for  the 
north,  and  may  go  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians. 

Governor  dimming,  on  the  3d  instant,  at  my  request,  made  a  requi 
sition  on  General  Johnston,  in  command  of  this  department,  for  a 
suitable  command  to  effect  the  arrest  of  the  parties  supposed  to  have 
been  associated  with  the  murderers  and  robbers  of  the  train  above 
alluded  to.  In  consequence  of  which  requisition,  a  detachment  of  the 
army  was  ordered  to  march,  with  the  distinct  proviso,  that  the  order 
was  given,  not  in  consequence  of  the  governor's  requisition,  but  because 
he  had  credible  information  that  certain  hostile  actions  had  been  com 
mitted  by  Indians,  and  especially  notifying  the  governor  that  his 
requisition  was  disregarded,  except  so  far  as  it  contained  evidence  of 
the  necessity  of  exercising  military  authority,  which  would  have  had 
equal  force  and  authority  had  the  information  been  derived  from  any 
other  credible  source. 

I  do  not  consider  it  necessary  to  recapitulate,  for  the  reason  that  it 
must  be  evident  to  the  department  that  I  cannot  reasonably  anticipate 
the  entire  control  of  the  Indians  in  this  widely-extended  Territory 
unless  I  can  be  sustained  by  military  power,  obtained  through  the 
governor,  or  some  other  official,  to  be  indicated  by  the  President. 

My  remoteness  from  Washington,  and  the  necessity  for  prompt 
action  in  these  matters,  must  be  received  as  an  apology  for  requesting 
that  orders  may  be  issued,  clearly  defining  the  duties  and  obligations 
of  officers  on  the  subjects  above  referred  to.  In  the  meanwhile,  during 
the  seeming  discrepancy  of  orders,  the  department  may  rest  assured 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  107 

that  I  will  endeavor  to  perform  my  duties  in  such  manner  as  will  con 
duce  to  the  honor  of  the  government  and  peace  of  this  Territory. 
I  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

J.  FORNEY, 

Superintendent  Indian  Affairs,  Utah  Territory. 
Hon.  A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs,  Washington,  D.  C. 


NOTICE. 

All  persons,,  especially  those  residing  in  or  passing  through  the 
northern  portion  of  this  Territory,  are  requested  not  to  take  or  pur 
chase  (unless  with  a  view  to  return  it  to  the  owners)  certain  property 
taken  from  a  California  emigrant  train  by  Bannack  Indians  of  Oregon, 
and  Shoshonee  Indians,  of  this  Territory,  such  as  horses,  mules,  and 
cattle  branded  S,  pistols,  jewelry,  &c. 

I-  especially  caution,  under  the  severest  penalty  of  the  law,  persons 
not  to  harbor,  give,  sell,  take,  or  buy  anything  whatever  from  any 
chief  or  from  any  of  their  men  or  squaws  belonging  to  the  three  bands 
of  Indians  roaming  in  the  neighborhood  of  Willow  Creek  and  Brigham 
City  settlements,  and  in  Cache,  Malad,  and  Bear  River  valleys,  and  in 
the  northern  portion  of  this  Territory  generally,  until  the  twenty  or 
more  Indians  who  took  part  in  the  recent  massacre  on  Sublett's  cut 
off,  July  24  last,  are  delivered  up. 

JACOB  FORNEY, 
Superintendent  Indian  Affairs. 


OFFICE  INDIAN  AGENT, 
Carson  Valley,  U.  T.,  September  3,  1859. 

SIR  :  The  two  widows  and  four  orphans  survivors  of  the  late  mas 
sacre  on  Sublett's  cut-off,  arrived  here  yesterday,  wounded,  overwhelmed 
in  grief,  and  totally  destitute  of  money,  clothing,  and  provisions,  their 
all  and  only  dependence  being  lost  in  that  deplorable  affair;  they  are 
from  Howard  county,  Missouri. 

Application  was  made  to  this  agency  for  assistance  which  was  im 
mediately  rendered,  and  nothing  in  my  power  will  be  left  undone,  to 
ameliorate  the  suffering  condition  of  these  poor  women  and  children. 

I  have  the  honor  to  inclose,  for  the  information  of  the  department, 
a  copy  of  a  letter  addressed  to  me  ;  also  a  copy  of  a  statement  of  that 
indiscriminate  massacre,  made  in  the  presence  of  Judge  Cradlebaugh 
and  myself  by  persons,  two  of  whom  were  on  the  spot,  and  the  others 
in  the  immediate  vicinity  at  the  time  of  the  tragedy. 

This  emergency  devolves  on  me  the  responsibility  of  incurring  some 
additional  expense,  but,  under  the  circumstances,  I  feel  confident  the 
department  will  sustain  me. 

With  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant,  v 

F.  DODGE, 

Indian  Agent. 

Hon.  A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Com.  of  Indian  Affairs,  Washington,  D.  C. 


108  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 


CARSON  VALLEY,  UTAH  TERRITORY., 

September  2,  1859. 

SIR  :  We,  having  taken  into  our  charge  and  brought  thus  far  the 
widows  and  orphans  of  the  late  massacre  on  the  Sublett's  cut-off,  at 
considerable  expense,  Mrs.  Wright  and  her  infant  child  being  seriously 
wounded  are  unable  to  proceed  further,  and  all  being  totally  destitute, 
we  respectfully  request  that  you  take  charge  of  them,  and  furnish  such 
aid  as  may  be  in  your  power. 

ANTON  W.  TJADER,  M.  D., 
JAMES  R.  SHEPHERD, 
OSCAR  F.  D.  FAIRBANKS, 
GEORGE  EVERETT. 
Major  F.  DODGE,  United  States  Indian  Agent. 


CARSON  VALLEY,  UTAH  TERRITORY, 

September  2,  1859. 

About  six  o'clock,  p.  m.,  the  26th  of  July,  when  some  men  of  a 
small  emigrant  train,  camped  at  Cold  Springs,  on  the  Sublett's  cut-off, 
eighty  miles  from  Salt  Lake  City,  were  at  supper,  a  party  of  eight 
Indians,  armed  with  rifles,  bows,  and  arrows,  came  down  and  asked 
for  something  to  eat.  Having  obtained  some  bread,  they  started  to  a 
hill  where  the  cattle  were  herded  by  two  men.  After  saluting  the 
cattle-guards,  and  passing  them,  one  of  the  Indians  suddenly  turned 
his  pony,  lowering  his  rifle,  shot  one  of  the  men,  Mr.  Hall,  through 
the  heart,  killing  him  instantly.  The  other  man  fled  to  the  camp. 
The  Indians  were  in  the  meantime  running  off  nine  head  of  cattle  and 
two  horses. 

At  the  time  of  this  depredation  there  were  only  a  small  train  of 
emigrants  present,  and  some  time  afterwards,  at  about  nine  o'clock, 
the  horse-train  led  by  Mr.  Ferguson  Shepherd  arrived.  The  night 
passed  on  quietly,  and  in  the  morning  Mr.  Shepherd's  train  left  at 
seven  o'clock,  at  the  arrival  of  Mr.  E.  Skaggs's  train. 

At  about  half-past  eight  o'clock  a  party  of  Indians,  twenty-five  or 
thirty  in  number,  came  down  over  the  hills  from  the  Salt  Lake  road, 
and  tried  to  run  off  the  cattle  grazing  there.  A  man  on  cattle-guard, 
in  trying  to  drive  down  the  herd,  was  wounded  by  a  rifle  ball  in  the 
fleshy  part  of  the  thigh,  and  by  two  arrows,  one  in  the  wrist  and  the 
other  in  the  shoulder.  The  men  at  camp  were  armed  hurriedly,  and 
met  the  Indians,  and,  exchanging  shots  with  them,  killed  two  and 
wounded  some  eight  or  ten. 

The  Indians  carried  off,  along  with  their  wounded  and  dead,  some 
twenty-one  head  of  cattle. 

The  horse-train,  which  started  out  in  the  morning  under  Mr.  F. 
Shepherd,  was  attacked  in  a  canon,  seven  miles  from  Cold  Springs, 
and,  while  doctoring  a  sick  horse,  Mr.  Ferguson  Shepherd  was  shot 
down.  Almost  at  the  same  time.  Mr.  James  D.  Wright  was  danger 
ously  wounded  through  the  chest  and  back.  Bill  Diggs,  Clayborn 
F.  Rains,  and  Wm.  Shepherd,  were  killed  in  rapid  succession,  the 


MASSACRE    AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  109 

Indians  firing  from  behind  the  bushes  on  the  ridges  of  the  heights  on 
each  side  of  the  canon. 

About  one  o'clock  two  men,  James  Ward  and  Geo.  Everett,  arrived 
on  horseback,  to  the  encampment  at  Cold  Springs.  Shortly  after  Geo. 
W.  Parson  and  J.  McGuire  arrived;  an  hour  later  Mr.  James  R. 
Shepherd,  wife,  and  infant,  Mr.  Townsend  Wright,  and  Ignatius 
Smith,  came  down  to  the  camp  of  emigrants  at  the  spring,  Smith 
being  shot  through  the  muscular  part  of  the  right  arm.  The  rest  of 
the  fugitives  were  uninjured,  though  fired  at  by  the  Indians. 

At  five  o'clock,  p.  m.,  the  trains  of  Messrs.  Fairbanks,  Hereford 
&  Pierce,  came  along,  and  united  with  the  trains  already  at  Cold 
Springs,  and,,  after  taking  every  precaution  to  guard  against  surprise, 
the  night  passed  without  being  interrupted  by  any  event  of  importance. 

The  next  morning,  at  an  early  hour,  the  united  trains,  to  the 
number  of  fifty-two  wagons  and  two  hundred  men,  started  through 
the  canon.  No  Indians  were  to  be  seen;  but,  at  the  place  of  the 
murder  of  the  day  previous,  the  bodies  of  Ferguson,  Wm.  Shepherd, 
Wm.  Diggs,  and  C.  Rains,  were  lying  in  the  middle  of  the  road, 
covered  with  blood  and  dust,  and  bloated  by  the  heat. 

The  wagons  were  turned  from  the  road,  the  ground  being  covered 
with  feathers  from  bedding,  and  fragments  of  clothing.  Under  a 
wagon,  with  a  crippled  babe  in  her  arms,  laid  Mrs.  James  Wright, 
with  a  serious  wound  in  her  back ;  and  inside  the  wagon,  half  delirious 
and  exhausted  by  loss  of  blood,  Mr.  James  Wright,  mortally  wounded. 
The  poor  sufferers  were  attended  by  a  little  son  five  years  of  age,  who 
supplied  their  feverish  lips  with  water,  and  also  brought  to  them  the 
sorrowful  news  that  all  their  companions. were  either  killed  or  had  fled. 

Mrs.  Wm.  Shepherd,  who  was  the  last  one  to  leave  the  place  of 
carnage,  arrived  the  evening  before  at  the  camp  of  refuge  at  Cold 
Springs,  but,  previously  weakened  by  attending  a  sick  husband,  they 
had  to  leave  an  infant  of  eight  months  in  the  bushes  a  few  rods  from 
the  place  of  disaster.  The  babe  was  found  by  the  advance  party  in 
the  morning,  and,  although  severely  scorched  by  the  sun,  uninjured. 

Mr.  James  Wright  and  wife,  together  with  the  four  dead  bodies, 
were  put  on  board  some  wagons  of  Geo.  M.  Pierce' s  train,  and  con 
veyed  eighteen  miles  further,  where  the  wounded  were  attended  to 
and  received  surgical  aid.  The  four  dead  ones  were  buried  in  one 
grave;  and  the  next  morning  Mr.  Oscar  F.  D.  Fairbanks  generously 
offered  his  carriage  to  convey  the  wounded.  It  was  a  spring  carriage, 
better  adapted  than  the  wagon  to  carry  them  along ;  and  from  this 
place  to  Genoa  he  and  his  sister  paid  the  greatest  attentions  to  the 
comfort  of  the  suiferers. 

Mr.  James  Wright  did  not  survive  but  ten  days,  and  was  decently 
buried. 

ANTON  W.  TJADER,  M.  D. 
JAMES  R.  SHEPHERD. 
OSCAR  F.  D.  FAIRBANKS. 
GEO.  EVERETT. 


110  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 


GENOA,  CARSON  VALLEY,  UTAH  TERRITORY, 

September  2,  1859. 

The  foregoing  statement  was  made  and  subscribed  in  our  presence. 

JNO.  CRADLEBAUGH, 

Judge  Second  Judicial  District. 
F.  DODGE, 

United  States  Indian  Agent. 


Dr.  A.  W.  Tjader's  statement  of  condition  of  the  ivounded  now  living. 

Mrs.  Wright  had  a  rifle  ball  shot  in  her  back  while  leaning  forward 
to  button  up  the  front  part  of  the  wagon.  The  ball  entered  half  an 
inch  below  the  right  kidney,  and  passed  directly  downwards,  grazing 
the  sacral  plexus  of  nerves,  and  pursuing  its  course  downwards  and  ala, 
and  turning  inward,  lodged  somewhere  in  one  of  the  lower  vertebras 
or  said  bones.  It  could  not  be  touched  at  a  distance  of  twelve  inches 
from  entrance,  and,  not  seemingly  causing  any  discomfort,  was  allowed 
to  remain.  She  is  now  recovering  slowly,  since  any  amount  of  clothing 
being  partly  removed  and  partly  discharged  from  the  wound. 

A  little  girl,  daughter  of  Mrs.  Wright,  aged  about  eighteen  months, 
was  taken  up  by  the  Indians  and  thrown  against  the  rocks,  whereby 
her  left  thigh  was  broken  in  the  middle.  The  poor  little  thing  was 
partly  deranged  for  some  time  after  so  cruel  a  treatment.  She  is  now 
bodily  and  mentally  mending.  The  fracture  is  uniting,  although  the 
bone  is  slightly  bent,  the  continuous  traveling  and  want  of  space  to 
apply  a  proper  apparatus  being  the  cause. 

Another  little  girl,  daughter  of  Mrs.  William  Shepherd,  who  was 
left  in  the  bushes  over  night,  was  severely  blistered  all  over  neck  and 
legs  by  the  severe  sun  heat,  had  her  neck  injured,  and  remained  in  a 
pitiable  plight  for  more  than  a  week  afterwards.  She  is  recovering, 
although  her  neck  is  still  very  stiff. 

The  sufferers  are  now  in  the  hands  of  Major  F.  Dodge,  United  States 
Indian  agent,  who  is  assiduous  in  his  endeavors  to  render  them  all  the 
assistance  in  his  power.  They  are  furnished  with  comfortable  quarters, 
good  nursing,  clothing,  and  surgical  aid. 

ANTON  W.  TJADEE,  M.  D, 

GENOA,  CARSON  VALLEY,  U.  T., 

September  2,  1859. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  September  6,  1859. 

SIR  :  I  have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the  2d 
ultimo,  transmitting  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  Samuel  Smith,  Esq.,  re 
porting  an  account  of  murders  said  to  have  been  perpetrated  by  Indians 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  Ill 

upon  an   emigrant  train  whilst  passing  the  road  which  leads  from 
Brigham  City  to  California  ;  and  also  the  receipt  of  a  copy  of  your  letter 
addressed  to  Governor  Cumming  upon  the  subject. 
Very  respectfully, 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner. 
J.  FORNEY,  Esq., 

Supt.  Ind.  Affairs,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR, 
Office  Indian  Affairs,  September  8,  1859. 

SIR  :  I  have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the  10th  of 
August  last,  reporting  your  return  from  the  north,  and  also  the  sup 
posed  massacre,  near  the  Goose  Creek  mountains,  of  a  California  train 
by  Bannack  and  Shoshonee  Indians. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner. 
J.  FORNEY,  Esq., 

Supt.  Ind.  Affairs,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah  Territory. 


CAMP  FLOYD,  UTAH  TERRITORY, 

September  23,  1859. 

SIR  :  I  inclose  to  your  address  two  affidavits  in  relation  to  one  of  the 
recent  massacres  on  the  Fort  Hall  road  from  the  States  to  California, 
for  your  information. 

My  mind  rests  satisfied  that  these  attacks — quite  frequent  of  late — 
on  parties  of  emigrants,  are  planned  and  led  on  by  white  men.  In 
the  first  train  attacked  this  season,  on  this  road,  there  was  a  white 
woman  ravished  by  five  men,  and  then  shot  by  them;  but  she  lived 
until  she  was  enabled  to  inform  one  of  her  party  that  they  were  all 
white  men.  They  had  not  taken  the  precaution  to  paint  the  whole 
body. 

You  will  see  by  the  testimony  of  Nelson  Miltimore,  that  the  men 
that  attacked  Miltimore's  train,  on  the  31st  of  August  last,  spoke  good 
English  to  this  witness,  and  to  his  comrade  in  iniquity.  If  we  grant 
that  Indians  may  learn  to  speak  it  so  as  to  deceive  a  person  under  such 
circumstances,  it  would  be  very  unnatural,  indeed,  for  him  to  speak  in 
our  language  to  his  fellow-highwayman,  if  he  was  an  Indian,  and  that 
fellow  reply  in  the  same  language;  but  add  to  this  the  facts  that  some 
of  the  party  wore  long  beards,  and  one  of  them  had  light  brown  hair, 
and  the  proof  is  conclusive  that  they  were  whites  in  Indian  disguise, 
to  any  acquainted  with  the  Indians  in  these  mountains. 

In  relation  to  the  affidavit  of  Suberr,  permit  me  to  say  tfiat  he  was 
an  unwilling  witness,  and  refused  to  make  an  affidavit  until  he  was 
compelled  to  do  so.  He  stated  to  me  the  reason  for  refusing  was  a 


112  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 

belief  which  he  entertains,  that  if  he  did  so  the  Mormons  would  assas 
sinate  him.  I  apprehend  he  knew  the  man  at  Salt  Lake  City  that 
made  the  proposition  to  him  to  join  this  gang  of  outlaws.  You  will, 
however,  see  by  his  affidavit,  that  there  were  some  dozen  or  more  per 
sons  at  the  mail  station  on  Sweetwater,  near  the  South  Pass  of  the 
mountains,  and  that  from  what  he  heard  and  saw  there,  he  was  led  to 
believe  that  mischief  was  intended  to  this  train  of  Miltimore's.  No 
such  number  of  persons  belonged  to  this  mail  station,  and  I  have  re 
quested  the  agent  of  the  mail  company  here  to  make  inquiry  about 
who  they  were,  and  when  and  by  what  road  they  left. 

On  the  29th  day  of  August  another  train  was  attacked,  on  the  east 
side  of  Fort  Hall,  leaving  the  party  that  made  it  about  time  to  come 
up  with  Miltimore's  party,  west  of  the  fort,  and  I  suspect  they  were 
the  same  party,  joined  by  a  few  Indians. 

These  outrages  seem  to  be  systematically  made  in  the  State  of  Ore 
gon,  by  persons  in  Utah. 

You  will  also  find  inclosed  the  affidavit  of  C.  F.  Betz,  of  Iowa.  It 
discloses  facts  of  which  we  were  previously  advised  by  letters,  and  I 
send  it  for  information  also.  They  are  beautiful  emblems  of  peace ! 

I  trust  sir,  that  a  few  suggestions  in  relation  to  these  Indian  mas 
sacres,  as  they  are  called,  will  not  be  regarded  as  offensive.  The  Snake 
and  Bannack  Indians  of  this  region  have  no  agent  where  one  is  much 
needed.  A  general  Indian  war  is,  if  possible,  to  be  avoided,  much  as 
certain  persons  here  may  desire  it.  If  our  troops  attack  all  the  Indians 
they  find  on  this  road,  a  general  war  would  ensue.  General  Johnston 
has  but  five  companies  of  mounted  men,  and  on  this  road  alone  there  is 
near  a  thousand  miles  to  protect.  To  protect  emigrants  on  this  road 
is  therefore  impracticable  while  the  Indians  are  allowed  to  remain  on 
it.  Their  agent  should  therefore  be  instructed  to  keep  them  off  of  the 
road,  so  as  to  justify  the  army  in  chastising  such  as  are  found  on  the 
road. 

The  road  by  this  camp  recently  made  by  the  army  is  more  than  three 
hundred  miles  the  nearest,  and  much  the  best  road  from  the  States  to 
California,  and  the  public  would  soon  follow  it,  but  for  interestedly  false 
representations  made  to  emigrants,  and  the  fact  that  almost  every  train 
that  has  passed  has  been  robbed  of  their  stock  by  Mormons,  and  some  of 
them  almost  in  sight  of  our  camp.  Indeed,  sir,  travel  is  safe  on  no  road 
through  these  mountains.  By  reference  to  a  letter  addressed  to  me 
about  a  year  since  by  Mr.  Vernon,  then  a  high  priest  of  the  Mormon 
church,  and  now  on  file  in  the  State  Department  you  will  see  that  we 
were  forewarned  of  these  troubles. 

Should  I  receive  further  information  that  may  be  useful  to  your  de 
partment  I  will  forward  it  to  you.     In  the  superintendent  here  I  have 
no  confidence,  and  for  that  reason  I  send  direct. 
Your  obedient  servant, 

D.  R.  ECKELS. 

Hon.  J.  THOMPSON, 

Secretary  of  the  Interior. 

NOTE.— I  also  send  you  a  copy  (printed)  of  the  report  of  Lieutenant 
Gay  of  battle  with  the  Indians  who  were  of  the  party  that  ravished 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  .  113 

the  white  woman  alluded  to  above,  that  you  may  note  the  conduct  of 
his  Mormon  guide,  and  the  place  selected  for  defense  by  the  Indians ; 
most  likely  whites  made  the  selection. 


UTAH  TERRITORY,  Cedar  county : 

Lorenzo  Suberr,  being  duly  sworn,  states  on  oath  that  he  traveled 
from  the  States  to  the  last  crossing  of  the  Sweetwater  river,  near  the 
South  Pass  of  the  Rocky  mountains,  with  a  company  of  emigrants 
from  Iowa,  to  California,  consisting  of  Edward  A.  Miltimore  and 
family,  with  others,  nineteen  in  all;  that,  soon  after,  Miltimore's 
party  left  him,  taking  the  " Lander's  road,"  and,  going  by  way  of 
Fort  Hall,  he  heard  a  man,  whose  name  is  unknown  to  affiant,  talking 
to  about  a  dozen  other  strangers,  who  were  at  the  mail  station,  and 
said,  uAint  I  glad  that  the  party"  (meaning  Miltimore's  party) 
"have  taken  that  road."  After  this  I  could  not  understand  what  was 
said  by  them,  but  the  circumstances  impressed  me,  at  the  time,  with 
the  belief  that  harm  was  intended  to  them.  Affiant  came  on  to  Salt 
Lake  City,  where  he  remained  for  a  few  days,  and,  being  acquainted 
somewhat  with  Mormonism,  he  induced  the  Mormons  to  believe  that 
he  had  come  to  the  Territory  to  find  a  permanent  home.  While  there, 
a  Mormon,  who  has  a  heavy  scar  on  the  forehead,  over  the  left  eye,  but 
whose  name  he  does  not  know,  informed  him  that  there  were  about 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  or  thirty-five  Mormons  and  about  three 
hundred  and  fifty  Indians  out  in  Goose  Creek  valley,  and  that  if  he 
(affiant)  would  go  out  there  to  them,  he  could  make  "a  pile,"  mean 
ing  a  quantity  of  money,  and  intimated  to  him  that  the  money  was  to 
be  made  by  robbing  emigrant  trains,  in  company  with  the  parties 
above  mentioned.  He  has  since  seen  a  portion  of  Mr.  Miltimore's 
party  here  at  Camp  Floyd,  who  informed  him  that  their  party  had 
been  attacked  and  eight  of  them  killed,  about  seventy-five  miles  before 
reaching  Goose  Creek  valley;  and  further  saith  not. 

LORENZA  SUBERR. 

Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me,  September  19,  1859. 

D.  R.  ECKELS, 
Chief  Justice  of  Supreme  Court. 


Nelson  Miltimore,  being  duly  sworn,  states  on  oath  that  he  belonged 
to  a  party  of  emigrants  going  from  the  State  of  Iowa  to  the  State  of 
California ;  that  said  party  consisted  of  nineteen  persons,  viz :  Edward 
A.  Miltimore,  his  wife  Catharine,  and  nine  children,  of  whom  depo 
nent  was  one,  William  Harrington  and  child,  and  whose  wife  is 
affiant's  sister,  Alford  Hill  and  wife,  Myran  Cline,  Nathan  Titus, 
Hiram  Marsh,  and  Franklin  Hubbard;  that  they  started  on  the  jour 
ney  in  May,  1859 ;  that  they  parted  company  with  Lorenzo  Suberr  at 
the  last  crossing  of  Sweetwater,  and  went  on  the  new  road  known  as 
" Captain  Lander's  wagon  road."  About  twenty-five  miles  west  of 
Fort  Hall  this  affiant  was  driving  along  the  team  in  the  rear  wagon 
Ex.  Doc.  42 8 


114      •    MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS. 

in  the  train,  when  he  saw  three  men — they  were  Indians,  or  white  men 
disguised  as  Indians — on  horseback,  coming  up  towards  the  train  of 
wagons,  through  the  loose  stock  of  the  company;  that  his  brother 
James  was  driving  on  after  them,  when  the  cattle  took  fright  and  ran 
off  on  the  hills  at  the  side  of  the  road.  When  this  took  place,  his 
brother  William,  who  was  driving  the  wagons  and  team  next  before 
before  witness,  stopped  his  wagon  to  see  what  was  the  matter,  when 
affiant  drove  on  and  passed  him.  His  father  was  with  the  wagon  of 
William^  walking  along  by  its  side ;  his  mother  and  the  small  children 
were  in  wagons.  These  three  men  were  armed  with  guns,  and  coming 
on  up  to  the  wagons.  Two  of  them  rode  up  to  and  were  looking  about 
the  wagons;  the  other,  who  was  the  largest  man  of  the  three,  kept  off 
more  from  the  wagons.  One  of  the  two  who  were  about  the  wagons 
said  to  this  affiant,  "  Where  are  you  going?"  He  replied,  "To  Cali 
fornia."  "No  you  are  not,"  said  he.  "Well,"  said  affiant,  "we 
started  for  there,  anyhow."  We  soon  came  to  where  were  two  tracks 
of  the  road,  separating  for  a  little  way,  when  the  man  that  had  spoken 
to  me  rode  out  on  one  of  them  a  short  distance,  and  said  to  his  com 
panion,  "There  are  no  tracks  going  this  way."  His  companion  replied, 
"Take  the  other  road,"  which  he  did. 

These  men  spoke  good  English.  There  was  no  brogue  on  their 
tongues;  and  from  hearing  them  talk,  he  would  judge  them  to  be  white 
men,  while  their  dress  and  color  denoted  Indians,  except  that  the  one 
that  spoke  to  affiant  had  light  brown  hair,  and  several  of  the  party  had 
beard ;  one  of  them  had  long  heavy  beard  that  he  particularly  noticed. 
After  passing  along  for  a  short  distance,  one  of  these  three  men  gave 
a  whoop,  when  others  soon  commenced  coming  in  sight  from  each  side 
of  the  road ;  affiant  counted  fifteen,  and  did  not  count  all  of  them ;  he 
supposes  there  were  about  twenty  in  all.  As  they  approached,  one  of 
the  three  got  off  of  his  horse  and  appeared  to  witness  to  be  fixing  the 
girth  of  his  saddle,  and  remounted  again,  but  very  soon  dismounted 
again  on  the  side  of  his  horse,  opposite  to  where  his  father  was  walk 
ing  by  the  side  of  the  wagon,  and,  taking  aim  on  the  shoulders  of 
his  horse,  fired  off  his  gun  at  father,  but  witness  don't  think  the  ball 
struck  him,  when  another  of  them  fired,  and  his  father  fell.  Our 
party  soon  scattered,  and  eleven  of  us  made  our  escape.  This  affair 
took  place  on  the  31st  day  of  August  last,  near  sundown.  Three  days 
after  this,  we  came  up  with  a  party  of  United  States  troops,  under 
command  of  Lieutenant  Livingston,  and  he  sent  a  party  of  nine  persons 
to  aid  others  to  escape,  if  they  yet  lived ;  when  they  returned  they  re 
ported  that  they  had  found  five  dead  bodies,  and  three  are  missing, 
including  his  mother.  His  sister,  about  five  years  old,  was  found  with 
her  legs  and  ears  cut  off,  her  eyes  gouged  out,  and  scalped.  And  fur 
ther  saith  not. 

his 

NELSON  x  MILTIMORE. 

mark 

Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me,  September  20,  1859. 

D.  R.  ECKELS, 
Chief  Justice  of  Supreme  Court. 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  115 


UTAH  TERRITORY,  Cedar  County: 

Christopher  F.  Betz,  being  duly  sworn  upon  his  oath,  states  that 
he  resides  near  Fort  Des  Moines,  in  the  State  of  Iowa,  and  came  to 
this  Territory  on  business  this  season ;  that  during  last  spring  there 
was  a  man,  about  whose  name  he  is  not  positive,  but  believes  it  was 
John  Greene,  a 'nephew  of  Brigham  Young,  who  hired  the  stock-field 
of  this  affiant  for  a  few  days  for  the  use  of  a  large  lot  of  work-cattle 
that  he  was  purchasing  to  come  across  the  plains ;  that  while  therey 
said  Greene  showed  him  bills  of  purchases,  made  by  him  for  the  Mormon 
Church,  to  the  amount  of  about  a  million  of  dollars;  among  the  items 
were  ten  pieces  of  artillery ;  that  he  refused  to  permit  him  to  look  over 
all  the  items.  He  stated  the  government  was,  trying  to  break  up 
their  church,  (meaning  the  Mormon,)  and  they  wanted  these  guns  to 
protect  it  and  keep  up  their  government;  and  there  was  also  150  or 
200  Sharp's  rifles  in  these  bills;  and  further  saith  not. 

C.  F.  BETZ. 

Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me,  September  26,  1859. 

D.  R.  ECKELS, 
Chief  Justice  of  Supreme  Court. 


Box  ELDER,  UTAH  TERRITORY, 

August  13,  1859. 

SIR  :  I  have  the  honor  to  report  that,  having  arrived  yesterday  within 
six  miles  of  this  place,  I  went  into  camp,  and  two  hours  afterwards 
had  reliable  information  that  a  large  body  of  Indians  were  probably 
encamped  somewhere  in  the  canon  leading  from  this  valley  to  Cache 
valley.  I  was  informed,  at  the  same  time  time,  that  within  five  or  six 
days  past  they  had  stolen  a  number  of  animals  from  this  and  the 
adjoining  settlements ;  and  that  they  were  the  same  party  who  had 
murdered  and  robbed  an  emigrant  train  on  Sublett's  cut-off. 

I  immediately  resolved  to  attack  them.  At  ten  o'clock,  p.  m.,  I 
broke  up  camp,  and  moved  quietly  to  this  village.  Here  I  left  my 
wagons  with  a  guard,  and  proceeded  with  a  command  of  forty-two 
men,  taking  with  me  four  pack  mules,  with  four  day's  rations,  in  order 
to  be  prepared,  if  necessary,  to  pursue  them  in  the  mountains.  By  two, 
a.  m.,  I  had  everything  prepared  for  the  march,  and  having  procured  a 
guide,  who  professed  to  know  the  Indian  encampment,  entered  the 
canon.  After  a  rapid  march  of  two  hours,  the  encampment  was 
indicated  by  a  number  of  ponies  grazing,  and  in  a  moment  afterwards 
by  the  Indians  jumping  up  from  their  beds  under  the  bushes,  and 
running  up  the  mountain  sides,  which  were  here  covered  with  under 
growth.  I  immediately  formed  my  men,  and  charged  upon  the  main 
body  of  them;  in  the  charge  several  of  the  enemy  were  filled  and 
wounded. 

They  then  scattered,  and  took  positions  behind  rocks,  &c.  Here 
they  were  charged  and  driven  up  precipices,  beyond  the  reach  of  men 


116  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 

or  horses.  I  then  dismounted  my  men,  and  kept  up  a  fire  for  at  least 
an  hour  and  a  half,  which  for  an  hour  was  briskly  returned  by  the 
enemy ;  but  he  gradually  ceased  to  fire.  The  precipitous  nature  of  the 

f  round  rendering  it  utterly  impossible  to  pursue  him,  I  drove  off  his 
orses  and  returned  to  this  place.  The  attack  commenced  just  before 
the  dawn,  and  continued  until  after  sunrise. 

I  am  satisfied  that  the  encampment  was  selected  with  a  view  to 
defense,  and  for  this  purpose  they  probably  could  not  have  found  a 
more  admirable  place  in  the  whole  Wahsatch  range  of  mountains.  (It 
is  known  as  Devil's  Gate  canon.)  As  soon  as  the  Indians  were  dis 
covered,  my  Mormon  guide  "  slid"  quietly  from  his  horse,  and  was 
seen  no  more,  until  on  my  return  near  this  town  I  overhauled  him. 
He  was  unable  to  give  any  satisfactory  reason  for  his  desertion.  I  have 
since  learned  that  he  came  into  town  during  the  action,  and  reported 
"  that  we  never  would  get  out  of  that  place."  The  horse  he  rode  was 
one  I  had  furnished  him,  and,  strange  to  say,  was  found  with  an  Indian 
on  his  back;  the  latter  was  shot,  and  horse  taken.  If  my  guide  had 
desired  to  lead  me  into  a  fatal  ambuscade,  he  could  not  have  taken  me 
to  a  spot  better  adapted  for  the  purpose. 

The  guide  and  many  others  estimated  the  Indian  force  at  from  150 
to  200  warriors.  The  number  killed  was  about  twenty,  as  near  as  we 
can  calculate.  I  had  no  men  killed,  but  four  severely,  though  probably 
not  mortally,  and  two  slightly,  wounded.  Nine  of  my  horses  were 
wounded. 

The  number  of  horses  taken  was  twenty,  nearly  half  being  Ameri 
can  horses. 

It  is  a  source  of  great  satisfaction  to  me  to  know  that  one  of  the 
horses  captured  proved  to  be  one  which  the  Indians  had  taken  from  the 
train  on  Sublett's  cut-off,  at  the  time  of  the  massacre  of  July.  Prob 
ably  more  belonging  to  the  same  train  would  have  been  captured  had 
not  the  Indian  animals  stampeded  during  the  action,  which  could  not 
be  prevented,  owing  to  the  small  guard  which  could  be  spared  from 
the  company  for  the  purpose  of  securing  property. 

I  am  much  indebted  to  Lieutenant  Kyan  for  his  services  on  this  occa 
sion,  which  were  performed  with  a  masterly  intrepidity  and  coolness 
during  the  whole  action. 

Assistant  Surgeon  J.  Moore  receives  the  heartfelt  thanks  of  myself, 
as  well  as  the  soldiers  under  my  command,  for  his  immediate  and  kind 
attentions  to  the  wounded  on  the  field,  during  the  action,  and  his  con 
tinual  personal  attendance  since. 

The  company  behaved  nobly  on  this  occasion.  I  have  the  honor  to 
refer  the  general  commanding  to  the  list  of  wounded  accompanying 
the  report. 

It  is  rumored  to-day  that  200  Bannack  Indians  arrived  in  Cache 
valley  yesterday.  These,  with  the  number  of  Indians  already  there, 
will  make  probably  about  500.  A  large  emigration  is  near  a  point  on 
Bear  river,  twenty  miles  from  this  (Cache)  valley.  I  shall  wait  here 
long  enough  to  care  for  my  wounded  and  recruit  my  horses,  when  I 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  117 

shall  proceed  to  Bear  river,  in  order  to  prevent  the  Indians  from  inter 
fering  with  emigration. 

Very  respectfully,  your  ohedient  servant, 

E.  GAY, 
Second  Lieut.,  Company  G,  Second  Dragoons,  Comd'g. 

Major  F.  J.  PORTER, 

Asst  Adj't  Gen'l,  Department  of  Utah. 


Box  ELDER,  UTAH  TERRITORY, 

August  13,  1859. 

Company  G,  Second  Dragoons. — List  of  men  wounded  in  an  action 
with  Indians  in  Devil's  canon,  near  Box  Elder,  Utah  Territory,  on  the 
13th  of  August,  1859  : 

First  Sergeant  Thomas  J.  Durnion,  slightly. 
Corporal  R.  F.  Cordua,  severely. 
Bugler  Henry  Winterbower,  severely. 
Private  Jacob  Eggersteal,  slightly. 
Private  Samuel  Smith,  severely. 
Private  Michael  Tierney,  severely. 

E.  GAY, 
Second  Lieut.,  Company  G,  Second  Dragoons,  Comd'g. 


Extract  from  Superintendent  Forney's  report  of  September  29,  1859. 

NORTHERN   DIFFICULTY. 

On  the  3d  of  August  last  I  received  a  letter  from  a  reliable  person 
in  Box  Elder,  in  the  extreme  northern  part  of  the  Territory,  advising 
me  that  an  emigrant  train  had  been  attacked  by  Indians  on  Sublett's 
cut-off,  in  Oregon ;  that  the  Indians  had  brought  into  the  settlements 
horses,  mules,  cattle,,  and  other  property,  which  they  attempted  to  sell 
to  the  inhabitants,  but  without  success. 

Upon  the  receipt  of  that  information,  I  addressed  a  note  to  his 
excellency,  Governor  Gumming,  requesting  that  a  military  force  be 
dispatched  without  delay  to  that  point,  and  proceeded  myself  immedi 
ately  to  Box  Elder.  Upon  my  arrival,  I  learned  that  the  Indians  had 
fled  with  their  stolen  property,  and  had  gone  north,  through  Cache 
valley,  towards  Bear  River  lake.  I  was  subsequently  advised  by  his 
excellency,  the  governor,  that  General  Johnston,  commander  of  this 
department,  had  ordered  a  company  of  dragoons  to  repair  to  the  north 
ern  settlements.  I  have  no  information  relative  to  the  character  of  the 
orders  issued  by  General  Johnston  to  the  officer  in  command  of  this 
detachment. 

I  was  further  advised  by  his  excellency,  that  the  general  in  com 
mand  of  this  department  had  notified  him  that  the  military  force  had 


118  MASSACRE    AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 

been  ordered  north,  not  in  consequence  of  his  official  requisition,  but 
as  a  matter  of  public  service,  based  upon  what  seemed  to  be  reliable 
information.  I  therefore  inferred  that  the  general  in  command  had 
assumed  the  exclusive  control  of  all  matters  connected  with  these  Indian 
outbreaks,  and  acted  in  virtue  of  his  command  of  the  army  in  this 
Territory.  Under  the  circumstances,  I  deemed  it  proper  to  return  to 
this  city,  where  my  presence  seemed  more  likely  to  promote  the  public 
interest,  than  by  remaining  where  my  official  authority,  to  say  the 
least,  was  considered  questionable. 

Soon  after  my  return,  I  met  Lieutenant  Gay,  who  was  in  command 
of  the  company  of  dragoons  above  alluded  to,  who  was  then  en  route 
to  the  north.  Our  interview  was  entirely  unofficial,  he  making  no 
report  to  me  in  relation  to  his  orders. 

Under  the  circumstances,  however,  1  deemed  it  my  duty  to  furnish 
him  with  every  item  of  information  that  might  facilitate  him  in  oper 
ating  successfully  against  the  hostile  Indians.  I  have  been  informed 
(unofficially)  that  Lieutenant  Gay  had  a  skirmish  with  a  party  of  Indians 
near  Box  Elder. 

This  officer  subsequently  formed  a  junction  with  Major  Lynde,  who, 
in  command  of  four  companies  of  United  States  troops,  was  on  his 
return  march  from  the  Humboldt  river  and  Goose  Creek  mountains. 

Since  that  time,  I  have  learned  that  another  train  has  been  attacked 
and  destroyed  near  Marsh  creek,  in  Oregon. 

After  inquiry  on  this  subject,  I  am  induced  to  believe  that  the  par 
ties  who  have  committed  these  outrages  are  renegades  from  the  Ban- 
nacks  of  Oregon,  and  Shoshonees ;  depredations  of  a  smilar  character 
have  been  committed  by  these  outlaws  for  many  years. 

I  presume  the  proper  department  will  consider  it  necessary  to  estab 
lish  permanent  posts  between  Fort  Hall  and  the  Goose  Creek  mount 
ains. 

The  Shoshonee  Indians  of  the  Humboldt  and  the  Goose  Creek 
mountains,  and  who  claim  a  home  in  Utah  Territory,  have  not  com 
mitted  any  depredations  since  my  visit  among  them  last  Fall.  It  is 
quite  obvious  to  me  that  the  Bannack  Indians  of  Oregon  have  insti 
gated  all  the  northern  difficulties ;  and  that  the  Shoshonees  of  this 
Territory  are  only  performing  a  secondary  part. 


CAMP  FLOYD,  UTAH  TERRITORY, 

October  25,  1859. 

SIR  :  Inclosed,  please  find  the  affidavits  of  Thomas  Wright  and 
William  Jones,  as  to  the  character  of  the  persons  who  perpetrate  the 
massacres  on  the  Fort  Hall  road  from  the  States  to  California. 

The  party  of  pretended  Indians  seen  by  these  affiants  about  the  first 
of  September  were,  I  presume,  the  same  that  made  the  attack  on 
Miltimore's  train,  on  the  31st  August,  on  their  return  to  the  South 
Pass. 

With  the  Indian  savage,  one  of  the  principal  inducements  to  murder 
is  to  plunder.  Horses  and  cattle  are  most  prized  ;  the  first  to  ride  and 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  119 

the  last  for  food.  The  cattle  of  Miltimore's  train  was  not  disturbed. 
In  it  there  was  a  sorrel  horse  answering  to  the  description  of  the  one 
traded  by  these  painted  white  men,  to  the  party  with  which  Wright 
and  Jones  were  traveling.  The  general  travel  for  this  year  is  over, 
and  nearly  all  the  troops  have  returned  to  their  quarters,  here.  Next 
season  we  may  expect  a  renewal  of  these  outrages.  No  country  in  the 
world  is  better  suited  to  the  purposes  of  bandits  than  this  ;  and  it  will 
give  us  trouble  to  rid  the  roads  through  these  mountains  of  them.  A 
party  of  Delaware  Indian  spies  could  be  made  very  useful  to  the  army 
in  breaking  them  up,  and  giving  aid  to  the  emigrants. 

I  arn,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

D.  K.  ECKELS. 

Hon.  J.  THOMPSON, 

Secretary  of  Interior,  Washington,  D.  C. 


UTAH  TERRITORY,  Cedar  County,  is : 

Thomas  Wright  and  William  Jones  make  the  following  statement 
under  oath,  viz:  "We  were  traveling  this  season  from  the  States  to 
California,  in  company  with  William  Bradbury  and  Louis  Montando 
and  others,  twenty-one  in  all,  on  the  road  known  as  Captain  Lander's 
wagon  road,  from  the  upper  and  last  crossing  of  the  Sweetwater  river, 
near  the  South  Pass  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  until  where  it  again  in 
tersects  the  old  Fort  Hall  road,  in  Oregon.  About  twenty-five  miles 
west  of  Fort  Hall  and  east  of  the  Goose  Creek  mountains,  we  found 
four  wagons  which  we  have  since  been  informed,  and  believe,  belonged 
to  Miltimore's  train  that  was  attacked  on  the  31st  of  August  last.  We 
found  there  eight  dead  bodies  ;  among  the  number  were  found  an  old 
man  and  a  woman  and  a  child  by  her  side.  We  also  found  a  place  where 
we  supposed  two  others  had  lain,  but  had  been  dragged  away  by  wild 
beasts.  The  dead  we  found  were  torn  and  disfigured  by  wolves  or 
other  wild  animals.  Some  of  the  contents  of  these  wagons  were  taken 
by  men  in  our  party.  Two  and  a  half  or  three  miles  from  the  wagons 
we  found  twenty-nine  head  of  horn  cattle,  which  we  gathered  together 
and  drove  on  here  to  Camp  Floyd,  where  we  found  the  remnant  of 
the  Miltimore  party  who  claimed  and  have  now  these  cattle. 

At  several  different  places  on  the  road  before  we  came  to  the  last 
crossing  of  Sweetwater,  persons  came  to  us  and  insisted  that  the 
Lander's  road  was  the  nearest  and  best  road  to  California,  and  that  we 
should  travel  it.  We  are  now  satisfied  that  these  representations  were 
false,  and  intended  to  deceive  emigrants  and  get  them  on  it  to  be 
plundered  and  robbed. 

On  this  road,  between  the  Sweetwater  and  where  we  found  the 
Miltimore  wagons,  about  the  first  of  September  last,  we  saw  a  party  of 
from  twenty  to  thirty  persons  either  Indians  or  in  the  disguise  of 
Indians.  We  then  (and  yet)  believed  them  to  be  whites  in  disguise. 
They  came  to  our  camp  in  a  evening  from  out  of  a  moirhtain,  and 
traded  with  our  party  a  fine  American  horse  for  a  rifle  gun,  powder, 
lead;  and  caps.  This  horse  followed  after  our  wagons,  and  we  believe, 


120  MASSACRE    AT    MOUNTAIN    MEADOWS. 

was  the  horse  of  some  party  that  had  been  accustomed  to  that  mode  of 
travel.  He  was  a  sorrel  gelding  with  one  white  hind  foot.  Five  or 
six  of  these  real  or  pretended  Indians  had  long  heavy  beards,  and 
three  of  them  had  yellow  hair.  We  noticed  none  of  them  that  had 
the  long  coarse  black  heir  of  the  Indian.  This  fact  was  spoken  of  by 
one  of  our  party  in  their  hearing,  and  it  produced  quite  a  sensation 
among  them.  These  pretended  Indians  spoke  our  language  well,  as 
well  as  any  American  speaks  it;  there  was  no  brogue  on  their  tongues, 
and  they  talked  it  to  one  another  as  well  as  to  us.  They  had  some 
mutton  with  them  that  they  tried  to  sell  us  for  mountain  sheep.  They 
knew  the  value  of  powder,  lead,  caps,  and  guns  as  well  as  we  did,  as 
well  as  the  cost  of  such  things  in  the  States.  They  also  purchased 
some  things  of  our  party  and  paid  for  them  in  American  gold  coin. 
After  they  had  sold  the  horse  and  received  the  pay  in  exchange,  one 
of  their  party  jumped  on  the  horse  and  attempted  to  make  off  with 
him,  but  was  caught  by  a  man  of  our  party  and  the  horse  taken,  but 
no  violence  was  offered.  They  visited  our  camp  both  in  the  evening 
and  the  morning  ;  but  some  of  those  who  came  in  the  evening  did  not 
return  in  the  morning,  but  others  who  had  not  been  there  before  came 
in  place  of  them.  There  were  three  women  in  the  party  that  were  not 
dark  enough  for  Indians ;  at  best  they  could  not  be  more  than  half- 
breeds.  Before  reaching  Miltimore's  wagons,  we  saw  where  at  least 
three  trains  had  been  burnt,  and  the  wagon-irons  left  lying  on  the 
ground. 

THOMAS  WRIGHT, 
WILLIAM  JONES. 

Subscribed  and  sworn  before  me,  October  21,  1859. 

D.  R.  ECKELS, 
Chief  Justice  Supreme  Court,  U.  T. 


MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS.  121 


Report  of  F.   W>  Lander ',  Superintendent,  &c.,  to  the  Commissioner  of 

Indian  Affairs. 

WASHINGTON,  February  18,  1860. 

SIR:  In  pursuance  of  the  letter  of  instructions  of  Acting  Commis 
sioner  Charles  E.  Mix,  of  March  26,  1859,  I  have  carried  out  the 
specifications  therein  embraced,  visited  the  tribes  enumerated,  and  have 
the  honor  to  report : 

THE  EASTERN  SNAKES. 

On  the  2d  day  of  July,  the  principal  payment  was  made  to  the 
Eastern  or  Washikeek  band  of  Snake  Indians,  at  the  crossing  of  Big 
Sandy  river,  forty  miles  west  from  the  South  Pass,  in* the  presence  of  a 
large  number  of  emigrants,  Subsequent  payments  were  made  to  small 
parties  of  this  tribe  as  the  expedition  proceeded. 

No  instance  is  on  record  of  the  Eastern  Snakes  having  committed 
outrages  upon  the  whites.  The  presents  were  given  as  a  reward  for 
their  good  behavior  in  the  past,  and  as  a  payment  for  the  destruction 
of  their  root  and  herding  grounds  by  the  animals  of  the  emigration. 

They  were  requested  to  aid  overland  travelers  by  every  means  in 
their  power,  to  restore  strayed  and  lost  stock,  and  in  case  of  any  outrage 
being  committed  upon  them  by  emigrants,  to  refrain  from  reprisal, 
but  report  it,  through  their  chief,  to  proper  authorities.  These  points 
were  explained  to  them  by  excellent  interpreters,  were  agreed  to,  and 
have  been  implicitly  regarded.  The  life  of  an  emigrant  was  saved  by  an 
Indian  at  "Green  river  crossing,"  and  great  assistance  rendered  at  the 
same  dangerous  ford  in  passing  trains,  by  the  mounted  warriors  of  the 
tribe.  Lost  stock  has  been  driven  in,  and,  by  a  paper  bearing  over 
nine  thousand  signatures,  the  emigrants  state  "that  they  have  been 
most  kindly  treated  by  the  Indians." 

At  the  payment,  the  emigrants  were  given  to  understand  the  object 
of  the  disbursement  of  presents,  and  have  treated  the  Indians  with  con 
sideration  and  respect. 

The  Eastern  Snakes  range  from  the  waters  of  Wind  river,,  or  latitude 
43°  30'  on  the  north,  and  from  the  South  Pass  to  the  headwaters  of 
the  North  Platte  on  the  east,  and  to  Bear  river,  near  the  mouth  of 
Smith's  Fork,  on  the  west.  They  extend  south  as  far  as  Brown's 
Hole,  on  Green  river.  Their  principal  subsistence  is  the  roots  and 
seeds  of  the  wild  vegetables  of  the  region  they  inhabit ;  the  mountain 
trout,  with  which  all  the  streams  of  the  country  are  abundantly  sup 
plied;  and  wild  game.  The  latter  is  now  very  scarce  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  new  and  old  emigrant  roads. 

The  immense  herds  of  antelope  I  remember  having  seen  along  the 
route  of  the  new  road,  in  1854  and  1857,  seem  to  have  disappeared. 
These  Indians  visit  the  border  ground  between  their  own  country  and 
the  Crows  and  Blackfeet  for  the  purpose  of  hunting  elk,  antelope,  and 
stray  herds  of  buffalo.  When  these  trips  are  made  they  travel  only 
in  large  bands,  for  fear  of  the  Blackfeet  and  Crows.  With  the  Pan- 
nacks  and  parties  of  Salt  Lake  Diggers  they  often  make  still  longer 


122  MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS. 

marches  into  the  northwestern  buffalo  ranges  on  the  headwaters  of 
the  Missouri  and  Yellow  Stone.  , 

These  excursions  usually  last  over  winter,  the  more  western  Indians 
who  join  them  passing  over  a  distance  of  twelve  hundred  miles  on  the 
out  and  return  journey. 

They  are  at  peace  with  the  Flatheads,  hunting  with  them  on  the 
buffalo  grounds.  They  seem  to  have  no  discretion  in  the  killing  of 
game.  The  antelope  " surrounds/'  in  which  the  whole  tribe  often 
engages,  are  made  at  that  season  of  the  year  when  the  antelope  is 
heavy  with  young,  or  has  the  fawn  by  her  side.  I  witnessed  one  of 
these  " surrounds"  on  the  headwaters  of  Green  river  in  1858.  On 
this  occasion  the  whole  herd  of  antelope  was  slaughtered  indiscrimi 
nately.  Washikeek,  the  principal  chief  of  the  tribe,  is  half  Flat- 
head.  He  obtained  his  popularity  in  the  nation  by  various  feats  as  a 
warrior  and,  it  is  urged  by  some  of  the  mountaineers,  by  his  extreme 
severity.  This  has,  in  one  or  two  instances,  extended  so  far  as  taking 
life.  The  word  "Washikee"  or  "Washikeek"  signifies  "Gambler's 
Gourd."  He  was  originally  called  " Pina-qua-na"  or  "Smell-of- 
Sugar."  "Push-i-can"  or  "Pur-chi-can,"  another  war  chief  of  the 
Snakes,  bears  upon  his  forehead  the  scar  of  a  blow  of  the  tomahawk 
given  by  Washikee  in  one  of  these  altercations.  Washikee,  who  is 
also  known  by  the  term  of  "the  white  man's  friend,"  was  many  years 
ago  in  the  employment  of  the  American  and  Hudson's  Bay  fur  com 
panies.  He  was  the  constant  companion  of  the  white  trappers,  and 
his  superior  knowledge  and  accomplishments  may  be  attributed  to  this 
fact. 

He  is  very  light  colored,  remarkably  tall  and  well  formed,  even  ma 
jestic  in  appearance,  and,  in  my  own  opinion,  an  undeniable  half- 
breed.  He  is  desirous  of  visiting  Washington  with  the  principal  war 
riors  of  his  tribe,  never  having  been  further  east  than  Fort  Laramie. 
The  policy  of  making  provisions  for  this  visit  is  evident,  many  of  the 
more  warlike  tribes  in  his  vicinity,  and  some  of  the  Eastern  Snakes, 
having  been  led  to  believe  that  the  whites  are  very  few  in  number.  I 
have  not  heard  the  chiefs  of  the  more  western  tribes  speak  of  such  a 
visit,  but  they  would  probably  join  in  it.  As  my  instructions  did  not 
direct  any  such  arrangement,  I  could  only  inform  the  chief  that  I 
would  make  his  wishes  known  to  the  Great  Father. 

Washikee  expresses  himself  in  favor  of  the  reserve  system,  and  has 
named  a  section  of  country  near  the  Medicine  Bow  butte,  on  the  bor 
der  lands  of  his  tribe,  as  a  suitable  place  for  farming  purposes.  I 
should  anticipate  some  difficulty  at  the  present  time  in  any  endeavor 
to  unite  the  Eastern  Snakes  upon  a  reserve.  I  made  them  offers  of 
seeds  and  utensils,  which  were  not  well  received. 

They  express  themselves  very  favorably  in  reference  to  herding, 
and  might  be  restrained  to  habits  of  discipline  and  self-denial  in  this 
respect  were  suitable  agents  appointed  to  reside  among  them. 

They  are  a  wandering  tribe,  and  range  at  different  seasons  of  the 
year,  as  necessity  calls,  over  the  entire  region  I  have  described. 

The  Salt  Lake  Diggers  intermarry  with  the  Eastern  Snakes,  and  are 
on  good  terms  with  them. 

Among  these  Indians  are  some  of  the  worst  in  the  mountains. 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  123 

Washikee  will  not  permit  a  horse  thief  or  a  vagabond  to  remain  in  his 
band,  but  many  of  the  Mormon  Indians  go  about  the  country  with 
minor  chiefs  calling  themselves  Eastern  Snakes. 

Old  Snag,  a  chief  sometimes  seen  on  Green  river,  who  proclaims 
himself  an  Eastern  Snake,  and  friend  of  the  Americans,  but  who  is,  I 
am  informed,  half  Pannack,  is  of  this  class.  His  character  is  very 
doubtful.  Although  no  actual  proof  exists  of  his  participation  in  rob 
beries,  he  has  been  known  to  permit  young  men  to  travel  in  his  ban- 
who  have  stolen  horses  from  emigrants.  An  instance  of  this  sort  has 
occurred  the  present  season,  to  which  I  shall  refer  in  my  remarks 
upon  the  Pannack  tribe. 

Southern  Indians  pass,  on  their  way  "to  buffalo,"  (a  technical  term,) 
through  the  lands  of  the  Eastern  Snakes  and  Pannacks,  and  the  latter 
are  often  made  to  bear  the  blame  of  their  horse-stealing  proclivities. 
The  Southern  or  Salt  Lake  Snakes  or  Diggers  are,  as  a  class,  more 
civilized  than  Washikee's  band.  Many  of  them  speak  English  ex 
ceedingly  well,  and  are  very  good  farm  laborers.  They  are  the  most 
dangerous  Indians  in  the  country,  and  if  they  could  be  gathered  on 
reserves  during  the  passage  of  the  emigration,  where  they  can  be  made 
to  support  themselves  much  more  readily  than  the  northern  Indians, 
it  would  be  a  matter  of  great  benefit  to  the  overland  travel. 

Any  steps  which  could  be  taken  to  augment  the  power  of  Washikee, 
who  is  perfectly  safe  in  his  attachment  to  the  Americans  and  northern 
mountaineers,  would  also  prove  beneficial. 

A  depredation  was  committed  in  the  Eastern  Snake  country,  by  Salt 
Lake  Diggers,  on  their  way  "to  buffalo;"  a  fine  ox  being  shot  down, 
owing  to  a  quarrel,  which  grew  out  of  a  horse-trade  with  an  emigrant, 
named  Amberson  Huff.  The  man  could  not  have  gone  on  without 
another  ox,  which  was  purchased  for  him  out  of  the  funds  of  the  wagon 
road  expedition,  and  charged  to  your  bureau. 

The  Eastern  Snakes  speak  the  same  language  as  the  Camanches,  and 
often  visit  that  warlike  tribe. 

The  Southern  Snakes  or  Diggers  have  slightly  different  pronuncia 
tion  for  some  words.  Their  language  is  called  by  mountaineers  Digger 
Snake. 

The  Western  Snakes,  who  go  about  the  country  with  the  Pannacks, 
also  use  a  slightly  different  pronunciation  from  the  Camanche  or  pure 
Snake  of  the  eastern  mountains. 

THE  BANNACKS  OR  PANNACKS. 

Mr.  C.  C.  Menshall,  who  received  my  instructions  to  pass  in  advance 
of  the  main  expedition  to  Salt  Lake  City,  organize  a  party  of  Mormons, 
load  a  train  with  flour  for  the  main  expedition,  repair  the  western  end 
of  the  mountain  section  of  the  new  road,  and  thence  working  towards 
the  eastern  approach,  join  me  on  Salt  river,  first  met  the  Pannacks  near 
Smoky  canon,  (so  called.)  They  were  in  force,  but  treated  his  party 
with  civility.  Apprehensions  had  existed  of  difficulty  with  the  Pan 
nacks,  who  had  stolen  horses  near  Camp  Floyd,  and  were  unsuccessfully 
followed  by  the  troops  during  last  winter.  Edward  Williamson,  who 
brought  the  information  from  Mr.  Menshall  of  the  state  of  the  new 


124  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 

road  and  of  his  arrival  at  Smoky  canon,  came  express  over  two  hundred 
miles  of  distance  entirely  alone  and  without  molestation,  although 
meeting  many  small  parties  of  these  Indians. 

I  made  my  first  payment  to  them  July  20,  on  Salt  river. 

Only  twenty  lodges  were  present,  though  other  small  bands  were 
afterwards  met ;  Mopeah  (in  English,  "  Bunch  of  Hair  in  the  Forehead/') 
calling  himself  a  friend  of  the  Mormons,  was  chief  of  the  party.  They 
range  through  Blackfoot  valley,  where  are  large  kamass  root  grounds, 
and  fine  opportunities  for  taking  mountain  trout.  The  latter  are 
caught  and  dried  in  large  quantities  for  winter  use.  This  hand  goes 
"  to  buffalo/'  and  will  not  part  with  good  buffalo  horses.  Their  usual 
route  is  through  the  pass  at  the  head  of  Marsh  creek,  a  tributary  of 
the  Snake.  The  divide  at  the  head  of  Marsh  creek  is  low,  and  they 
can  return  during  winter ;  sometimes  they  come  back  by  way  of  the 
South  Pass  and  Fort  Bridger.  Some  of  Mopea's  band  hang  about 
Cache  valley,  and  among  the  very  bad  Indians  known  as  the  Cache 
Valley  or  Salt  Lake  Diggers.  To  the  latter,  and  the  Western  Snakes, 
may  be  attributed  the  outrages  recently  committed  on  the  overland 
emigration. 

Mopeah's  band  may  be  said  to  number  forty-five  lodges,  or  about 
three  hundred  souls.  They  have  large  numbers  of  horses.  The  evening 
after  the  presents  were  distributed,  a  war  party  of  about  thirty  Indians, 
under  the  direction  of  Tash-e-pah,  arrived. 

TASH-E-PAH. 

Tash-e-pah,  or  Louis,  who  is  a  noted  horse-thief  and  war  chief,  is 
half  Flathead.  He  is  friendly  to  the  Americans.  I  met  him  in  1857, 
when  he  had  just  arrived  from  Oregon,  with  a  band  of  horses  stolen 
from  the  Cay  uses.  Tash-e-pah  left  most  of  the  disaffected  Pannacks 
at  Salmon  Falls;  but  two  or  three  accompanied  him.  A  slight  diffi 
culty  occurred  with  the  latter.  The  train  was  encamped  in  a  com 
manding  position,  overlooking  the  Indian  lodges,  which  were  pitched 
along  the  valley  near  a  small  brook,  lined  with  willows.  At  about  the 
time  of  changing  the  first  guard,  some  of  the  disaffected  Pannacks  shot 
from  these  willows  at  the  embers  of  the  camp  fire,  where  Walter 
Briscoe  and  myself  were  seated.  Two  shots  were  fired,  one  passing 
very  near  Briscoe.  A  bucket  of  water  was  dashed  on  the  fire,  and  the 
men  were  turned  out  without  noise.  The  herding  horses  were  then  led 
into  the  encampment,  and  the  mules  surrounded  to  prevent  a  stampede. 
The  horses  were  then  saddled.  While  this  was  going  on,  taking  with 
me  fifteen  of  the  most  reliable  men  of  the  train,  experienced  in  mount 
ain  life,  I  entered  the  willows  and  secured  the  Indians  between  the 
camp  on  the  hill  and  the  mountain. 

Tash-e-pah  and  Mopeah,  with  several  of  the  older  warriors,  remained 
in  the  lodges,  and  on  the  men  raising  a  shout  as  they  charged  on  the 
ambush,  they  called  out,  in  Snake,  for  us  not  to  shoot,  at  the  same  time 
kindling  a  fire  in  the  lodges.  In  my  opinion,  it  would  have  been 
entirely  out  of  place  to  have  killed  the  young  men  whom  we  made 
prisoners.  My  reason  for  not  doing  so  was  simply  the  fact  that  the 
road  in  the  rear  of  the  train  was  at  this  time  crowded  with  small  par 
ties  of  emigrants,  men,  women,  and  children,  many  of  them  unarmed. 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  125 

The  Pannacks,  although  reported  at  Salmon  Falls,  might  have  been 
in  force  in  the  neighboring  mountains. 

The  very  fact  that  Mopeah  had  visited  me  with  the  women  and  chil 
dren  of  the  tribe,  and  brought  with  him  a  large  band  of  valuable 
buffalo  horses,  was  conclusive  that  he  did  not  intend  hostilities.  I  had 
proved  the  friendship  of  Tash-e-pah  (or  French  Louis)  years  before, 
when,  with  one  companion,  I  passed  through  his  country  from  Oregon. 
Mopeah  explained  the  affair  by  saying  that  there  were  two  young  men 
in  his  band  who  were  fools,  and  angry  because  they  had  not  received 
blankets  and  presents  with  the  rest  of  the  tribe.  They  arrived  after 
the  payment.  Several  of  these  Indians  were,  however,  held  as  host 
ages,  and  traveled  with  the  train  to  Raft  river.  After  receiving  their 
presents  they  were  sent  out  to  bring  in  the  Salmon  river  party.  They 
would  undoubtedly  have  brought  them  if  we  had  not  fallen  in,  at  the 
designated  rendezvous,  with  Captain  Wallen's  command,  a  military 
force  just  arrived  from  Oregon. 

The  expedition  halted  about  a  week  for  the  hostiles,  when  the  pres 
ents  intended  for  them  were  taken  on  to  California  and  sold  to  the 
credit  of  the  department. 

The  Pannacks  are  not  irreclaimably  hostile.  They  are  well-disposed 
to  the  whites,  but  their  horse-stealing  proclivities  prevent  amicable 
arrangements  with  them,  to  become  lasting,  if  it  is  to  be  made  a 
cause  of  war  against  the  whole  tribe,  Washikee  told  me  that  there 
were  a  good  many  young  men  among  the  Pannacks  who  would  not 
acknowledge  their  chiefs'  authority.  He  also  said  that  when  the  Pan 
nacks  came  from  buffalo,  these  young  men  often  stole  horses  from  the 
Snakes,  and  he  did  not  go  to  war  about  it,  because  the  tribes  inter 
marry  and  are  friends.  Mopeah  said  that  the  tribe  went  to  visit  the 
soldiers  at  Fort  Bridger,  to  prove  their  friendship,  and  did  not  get 
presents.  This  enraged  them,  and  they  stole  horses  on  starting  to 
return  to  their  own  country.  This  is  the  time  they  were  followed  by 
the  troops.  Malicious  parties,  said  by  the  Indians  to  be  Mormons, 
told  the  Pannacks  that  the  troops  were  coming  against  them  during 
the  summer,  and  seeing  the  soldiers  they  necessarily  refused  to  come  in. 

I  was  informed  by  Ten-toi  (Snake  and  Pannack)  that  he  would  aid 
in  punishing  any  horse-thief  or  murderer,  and  that  he  did  not  care 
how  soon  they  were  hung,  if  the  leading  friendly  Indians  of  the 
tribe  were  were  present ;  but  if  war  was  made  indiscriminately,  and  his 
relatives  killed,  he  should  have  to  fight.  Ten-toi  is  the  son  of  the 
noted  chief  and  friend  of  the  whites,  "Old  Buonaparte,"  now  dead. 
He  is  not  a  chief,  but  has  very  great  influence  with  the  tribe,  and  has 
distinguished  himself  in  wars  with  the  Blackfeet. 

Our  expeditions  of  the  last  three  years,  and  the  whites  generally, 
are  under  obligations  to  this  fine  Indian.  He  has,  at  much  loss  and 
expense,  and  at  some  risk  to  himself,  several  times  recovered  stolen 
horses.  He  saved  the  lives  of  two  Nez-Perce  prisoners  taken  by  the 
Pannacks.  Five  of  the  horses  stolen  last  winter  by  whites  were  recov 
ered  and  returned  by  Ten-toi ;  so,  too,  two  mules  taken  from  the  Mor 
mons.  He  is  the  Indian  referred  to  in  my  report  to  the  honorable 
Secretary  of  the  Interior,  of  last  year.  I  presented  him  with  a  fine 
Hawkins  rifle  the  present  season. 


126  MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS. 

While  on  my  way  to  Raft  creek,  intelligence  arrived  of  the  stealing 
of  three  horses  at  Salt  river  on  the  new  road,  by  some  Salt  Lake  Dig 
gers,  who  were  traveling  with  "Old  Snag/'  This  Indian  I  have 
already  named  as  of  doubtful  character.  They  took  the  horses  in  an 
easterly  direction,  on  their  way  to  "  buffalo."  Two  other  horses  were 
stolen,  and  recovered.  These,  with  the  shooting  of  an  ox,  already 
referred  to,  were  the  only  depredations  committed  on  the  new  road, 
although  reports  have  been  made  to  the  contrary.  The  Indians  who 
stole  the  horses  were  of  the  Cache  valley  band,  and  out  of  their  own 
country.  At  the  time  this  was  done  I  was  two  hundred  miles  in 
advance,  the  emigration  having  nearly  all  passed.  If  I  had  returned, 
followed  the  Indians,  and  recovered  the  horses,  I  should  not  have  been 
able  to  meet  the  Pannacks  at  the  proposed  rendezvous.  My  advance 
party  of  thirteen  men  on  Humboldt  river  would  have  also  been  out  of 
provisions  ;  other  circumstances  precluded  my  sending  back  a  party 
and  awaiting  its  return.  I,  therefore,  placed  the  charge  of  the  recovery 
of  these  three  horses  with  Thomas  Lavatti,  a  very  reliable  half-breed 
interpeter,  and  Ten-toi.  Thomas  Lavatti  is  referred  to  in  my  letter  to 
Mr.  Forney,  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  at  Great  Salt  Lake  City, 
of  August  16,  1859. 

Statements  were  taken  from  the  emigrants  losing  the  horses,  and  the 
papers  are  forwarded  herewith,  for  your  inspection  and  decision  upon 
the  merits  of  the  case.  As  the  men  were  on  their  way  to  California, 
they  will  probably  make  application  for  payment  through  some  mem 
ber  of  Congress  from  that  State. 

If  an  expedition  goes  out  next  season,  the  commanding  officer  will 
probably  receive  the  animals  from  Ten-toi  or  Lavatti.  They  will  neces 
sarily  be  of  no  use  to  the  emigrants,  who,  in  my  opinion,  are  entitled 
to  payment  if  there  is  any  law  under  which  they  can  receive  it. 

Mr.  William  H.  West  was  sent  back  to  the  South  Pass  to  inform 
emigrants  that  bad  Indians  were  on  the  road,  and  direct  them  to  look 
out  for  their  stock.  He  was  instructed  to  bring  such  intelligence  of 
the  conduct  of  the  Indians  as  he  might  be  enabled  to  gather.  On  his 
return  he  passed  over  the  route  of  the  recent  massacre  at  about  the 
time  of  their  being  committed.  He  escaped  the  hostile  bands  by  night 
travel.  He  is  entitled  to  honorable  mention  for  daring  and  successful 
service,  and  for  the  exposure  and  hardships  of  his  trip.  The  journey 
was  made  in  saddle,  over  a  distance  of  six  hundred  miles,  and  at  the 
rate  of  sixty  miles  to  the  twenty-four  hours.  He  traveled  with  a 
single  blanket,  and  was  without  food  for  forty-eight  hours  at  a  time. 

This  massacre,  the  murder  of  the  Miltimore  train,  referred  to  in 
Judge  Eckels' s  letter  to  you,  did  not  take  place  upon  the  new  road,  as 
stated. 

The  following  report  of  August  16,  refers  to  it: 

CAMP  ON  WEST  BRANCH  OF  RAFT  RIVER, 
15  miles  from  City  Rocks,  August  16,  1859. 

SIR:  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  to  you  the  following  important 
information,  regarding  a  transaction  of  which  you  have  already  pro 
bably  received  some  intelligence. 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  127 

An  Indian  lad,  named  No-e-no-kook,  in  English,  "  The  Boy  that 
Kuns  Fast/'  about  fourteen  years  of  age,  belonging  to  Pocatara's  band 
of  Western  Snakes,  came  into  my  camp  to-day,  accompanied  by  two 
other  Indians  of  the  same  tribe,  and  informed  me  of  the  massacre  of  a 
small  party  of  emigrants,  about  twenty  miles  east  of  the  junction  of 
the  Fort  Hall  andHedspeth  roads,  on  the  west  branch  of  Raft  river. 

The  attacking  party  consisted  of  about  thirty  warriors  of  the  Salt 
Lake  or  Southern  Snake  Indians  under  the  direction  of  a  chief  named 
Pag-e-ah,  or,  in  English,  "The  man  who  carries  the  arrows."  This 
chief  was  the  leader  in  the  massacre.  Two  other  principal  men  were 
present,  one  named  Sow-wich,  which,  translated,  means  nearer  than 
anything  else,  "  The  steam  from  a  cow's  belly,"  and  another  called 
Ah-gutch,  or,  "The  Salmon."  There  were  other  Indians  present 
whose  names  are  Pah-win-poah  or  the  "Water  goes  in  the  path," 
Pag-en-up,  or,  "The  mist  after  the  rain,"  and  Wah-me-tuh-mah, 
which  hardly  bears  translation. 

Four  white  men  were  killed,  one  man  and  one  woman  w^ounded. 
After  the  massacre,  the  Indian  party  divided,  a  portion  crossing  the 
mountain  towards  the  Humboldt,  but  the  larger  number  and  the  two 
chiefs  going  back  with  the  stolen  property  towards  Salt  Lake  City. 
They  are  now  said  to  be  either  at  Rush  valley,  a  favorite  haunt  of 
theirs  in  the  Mormon  settlements,  or  nearer  the  city.  The  boy  brought 
to  camp  a  blanket  taken  from  the  emigrants  during  the  massacre,  and 
which  was  given  him  by  one  of  the  murderers.  He  is  much  fright 
ened,  having  been  present  during  my  treaty  last  season  with  Poca 
tara's  band.  His  idea  was  to  come  in  and  give  up  the  blanket  and 
tell  all  he  knew  of  the  matter.  He  assures  me  that  none  of  Pocatara's 
band  were  engaged  in  the  affair,  which  I  have  little  reason  to  doubt, 
as  they  have  several  times  passed  small  parties  of  unarmed  men, 
having  valuable  mules  and  horses  in  their  possession,  through  their 
country  since  the  treaty  of  last  year. 

I  find  it  impossible  to  induce  the  boy  to  accompany  the  bearer, 
Thomas  Lavatti,  my  interpreter,  to  the  city.  He  is  more  afraid  of  the 
Indians  than  of  the  white  men.  I  do  not  like  to  use  force,  as  it  might 
prevent  another  disclosure  of  crime,  by  destroying  the  trust  of  the 
Indians  of  this  vicinity  in  the  propriety  of  making  such  facts  known. 
I  send,  therefore,  the  blanket  and  the  uncle  of  the  boy,  who  is  in  pos 
session  of  all  the  facts,  and  can  point  out  the  Indians  designated.  Mr. 
Lavatti  is  also  perfectly  conversant  with  all  the  facts  of  this  case,  as 
related  by  the  boy. 

The  boy  met  some  of  the  murderers  near  Rush  valley  on  their  return 
from  the  fight,  and  they  then  told  him  they  had  stolen  thirty  cattle 
and  a  number  of  mules.  Three  lodges  of  this  same  tribe,  or  Pag-e-ah's 
band  of  Mormon  Snakes,  have  been  on  the  new  road  via  Salt  river 
valley  the  present  season  on  their  way  "to  buffalo"  with  the  party 
of  Ti-wan-doah  or  "  Old  Snag."  They  stole  five  horses  from  emigrants,, 
two  of  which  were  recovered.  Snag  can  point  out  the  Indians  who 
stole  these  horses,  and  should  be  made  to  do  so  on  their  return  home. 
Ten-toi  and  other  leading  Indians  of  the  Upper  Snake  and  Pannack 
tribes  desire  these  difficulties  ended,  and  will  give  all  the  aid  in  their 
power  to  accomplish  such  a  result.  This  can  hardly  take  place,  how- 


128  MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS. 

ever,  until  some  of  the  worst  of  the  Indians  are  punished.  The  Pan- 
nacks  are  now  quiet.  I  have  met  about  forty  lodges.  The  Kamass 
Prairie  and  Fort  Boise  Pannacks  have  refused  to  come  into  the  pay 
ment,  being  afraid  of  the  troops,  hut  have  sent  hack  three  horses 
stolen  from  the  whites. 

I  commend  to  your  notice  Thomas  Lavatti,  who  has  accompanied 
me  among  the  Indians  when  it  was  impossible  for  me  to  obtain  another 
interpreter,  and  when  my  party  had  been  deserted  by  every  other 
mountaineer  from  apprehensions  of  Indian  troubles.  Lavatti  rides 
express  to  bring  the  intelligence  I  transmit,  and  from  the  nature  of  it 
will  encounter  much  risk  not  only  now,  but  hereafter. 

It  is  my  opinion  that  these  marauding  bands  are  stimulated  by  in 
habitants  of  Utah  Territory  to  steal  cattle,  horses,  and  mules  for  their 
(the  whites)  benefit.  All  my  observations  of  the  last  and  present 
season  favor  this  supposition,  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  the  stolen 
property  of  this  last  massacre  will  be  found  in  such  hands  as  to  fully 
justify  the  observation. 

I  have  the  honor  to  request  that  this  letter  may  be  laid  before  Gov 
ernor  Gumming  and  General  Johnson  of  the  Utah  army,  and  that  a 
copy  of  it  be  transmitted  to  the  honorable  Secretary  of  the  Interior. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

F.  W.  LANDER, 

Superintendent ,  cfcc.,  &c. 

Mr.  FORNEY, 

Superintendent  Indian  Affairs,  Salt  Lake  City. 

The  very  important  papers  addressed  by  Chief  Justice  Eckels  to  the 
honorable  Secretary  of  the  Interior  in  relation  to  these  massacres,  and 
referred  to  your  bureau,  rendered  necessary  a  review  of  this  whole 
subject.  The  Secretary,  in  fact,  has  especially  required  from  me  an 
explanation  of  the  matter.  Nor  is  this  to  be  wondered  at. 

It  must  be  inferred  by  Judge  Eckels' s  letter,  that  he  believes  emi 
grants  were  advised  to  take  the  new  road  that  they  might  be  robbed 
by  Indians  or  evil-minded  white  men. 

He  also  says  :  "The  road  by  this  camp  (Camp  Floyd)  recently  made 
by  the  army,  is  more  than  three  hundred  miles  the  nearest,  and  much 
the  best  road  from  the  States  to  California,  and  the  public  would  soon 
follow  it,  but  for  interestedly  false  representations  made  to  emigrants." 

Now  this  is  wholly  incorrect ;  the  road  is,  by  actual  measurement, 
only  six  miles  nearer  than  the  one  built  by  me  to  Carson  Valley,  it  is 
actually  longer  to  Honey  lake,  and  it  is  declared  by  the  officers  who 
surveyed  it,  and  by  General  Johnston,  a  matter  of  doubt  whether  it 
will  ever  be  suitable  for  a  large  ox-team  emigration. 

In  the  opinion  of  mountaineers  it  never  can  become  an  emigrant 
road. 

As  to  the  " interestedly  false  representations  made  to  emigrants," 
Edmund  L.  Yates,  Esq.,  expedition  road  agent  at  the  South  Pass  wrote 
to  me:  "On  entering  upon  my  duties  I  had  the  misfortune,  as  you 
were  duly  informed,  to  meet  with  considerable  annoyance  from  par 
ties,  owners  of  ferries  on  the  Salt  Lake  road,  and  Mormon  agents  from 
Salt  Lake  City." 


•-        ,  -.• 
MASSACRE    AT    MOUNTAIN    MEADOWS.  129 

Your  instructions  to  me  of  6th  of  July,  in  reply  to  my  complaint, 
were  as  follows,  viz : 

" Respecting  the  traders  of  Green  river  and  the  Mormon  agents,  we 
cannot  do  more  than  simply  inform  the  emigrants  of  the  actual  facts 
in  regard  to  our  road.  Let  them  choose  which  of  the  two  roads  they 
care  to  travel,  it  is  nothing  to  us;  we  comply  and  plainly  ohey  instruc 
tions  from  the  department,  therefore  do  not  persuade  any  one  to  take 
the  road,  although  we  know  it  to  he  best." 

So  far  from  being  recommended  to  take  it,  it  appears  that  emigrants: 
were  recommended  by  designing  parties  not  to  take  it,  and  that  the 
only  persons  who  gave  simple  and  reliable  information  about  it,  were 
the  officers  of  a  government  expedition,  appointed  under  the  direction 
of  the  honorable  Secretary  of  the  Interior.  Is  it  to  be  supposed  that 
any  member  of  my  expedition  would  make  designedly  false  represen 
tations  to  emigrants  ?  But  the  following  statement  of  the  letter  of 
Judge  Eckels  is  important,  viz : 

"You  will,  however,  see  by  his  (Suberr's)  affidavit  that  there  were 
some  dozen  or  more  persons  at  the  mail  station,  on  Sweetwater,  near 
the  South  Pass  of  the  mountains,  and  that  from  what  he  heard  and 
seen  there,  he  was  led  to  believe  that  mischief  was  intended  to  this 
train  of  Miltimore's.  No  such  number  of  persons  belonged  to  this 
mail  station  ;  and  I  have  requested  the  agent  of  the  mail  company  here 
to  make  inquiry  about  who  they  were,  and  when  and  by  what  road 
they  left." 

A  party  of  Mormons,  or  citizens  of  the  Mormon  settlements,  had  a 
blacksmith  shop  near  Pacific  Springs,  ten  miles  from  the  South  Pass, 
on  the  Salt  Lake  road.  They  were  often  at  the  mail  station,  on  the 
opposite  side  of  Sweetwater  river,  from  Tim.  Goodale's  lodge,  where 
Yates  resided.  Some  of  them  endeavored  to  prevent  emigrants  from 
taking  the  new  route,  and  may,  perhaps,  have  been  affiliated  with  the 
parties  who  stimulated  the  Indians  to  murder  and  rob  the  emigrants 
who  did  so.  In  fact,  from  their  attempting  to  influence  the  emigra 
tion,  a  collision  occurred  between  these  parties  and  Goodale.  During 
last  winter,  one  of  the  most  reliable  men  of  the  expedition,  left  at  the 
South  Pass  in  charge  of  government  property,  was  murdered  at  this 
station.  A  very  bitter  feeling  has  been  created  among  southern  traders 
by  the  turning  of  the  emigration  over  the  new  road.  The  opportunity 
is  lost  to  them  of  purchasing,  at  low  rates,  the  cattle  disabled  in  cross 
ing  the  desert  now  avoided  by  the  new  road.  The  business  of  the 
many  ferries  across  Green  river  is  also  injured.  Fully  two  thirds,  Mr. 
Yates  says  nine  tenths,  of  the  emigration  went  by  the  new  road,  but 
on  account  of  the  misstatements  of  the  parties  referred  to,  some  of  it 
kept  the  old  line  of  travel.  Next  year  very  few  of  the  emigrants  will 
travel  the  old  road,  and  many  of  the  traders  have  moved  their  stations 
to  the  new  one. 

The  great  freighting  trains  and  the  mails  turn  oif  at  the  South  Pass, 

but  the  emigrants,  as  a  class,  do  not  wish  to  go  through  Salt  Lake 

City,  and  have  heretofore  very  generally  avoided  it  by  Jhe  winding 

route  of  the  old  road  along  Sublett's  cut-off,  Bear  river,   and  the 

Ex.  Doc.  42 9 


130  MASSACRE    AT    MOUNTAIN    MEADOWS. 

Hedspeth  and  old  Fort  Hall  roads.  Some  small  trains,  generally  in 
experienced  travelers,  sometimes  pass  through  the  city,  either  to  pur 
chase  flour,  or  from  curiosity.  The  following  statement,  signed  by 
sixty  persons,  explains  their  reasons  for  disliking  the  route,  viz  : 

"The  undersigned,  emigrants  from  Iowa  and  other  States  to  Cali 
fornia,  desire  to  state,  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  may  emigrate  here 
after,  that  they  traveled  the  road  leading  by  Salt  Lake,  and  found  it 
very  mountainous  and  rough,  and  most  of  the  streams  on  said  road 
bridged  and  ferries  established,  over  which  exorbitant  tolls  were  ex 
acted  for  the  passage  of  trains  and  teams,  and  where  there  were  no 
bridges  or  ferries  over  the  streams,  the  fords  were  not  only  difficult, 
but  dangerous.  They  would  also  state,  for  the  benefit  of  those  who 
may  emigrate  hereafter,  that  they  were  compelled  to  pay  from  twenty- 
five  cents  to  five  cents  per  head  a  night  for  pasturage  of  their  stock  at 
Salt  Lake,  and  as  far  up  as  Bear  river,  a  distance  of  nearly  one  hundred 
miles.  That  for  about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  miles  from  the 
South  Pass,  towards  Salt  Lake  City,  the  country  was  nearly  destitute 
of  grass,  and  might  almost  be  called  a  barren  waste,  and  the  road 
strewn  with  carcasses  and  bones  of  dead  animals,  lost  the  present  and 
past  seasons,  caused  doubtless  by  the  great  scarcity  of  grass ;  and  they 
especially  advise  all  future  emigrants  not  to  travel  the  Salt  Lake 
road." 

Signed  by  John  E.  Movers  and  fifty-nine  others. 

The  many  editorials  of  leading  papers  of  California  in  praise  of  the 
new  route,  the  proof  that  thirteen  thousand  (13,000)  individuals  passed 
over  it  and  signed  papers  in  favor  of  it  the  present  season,  and  the 
state  of  the  stock  of  the  wagon  road  expedition,  sold  at  a  large  profit 
to  the  department,  after  traveling  upon  it,  are  plain  arguments  as  to 
the  importance  of  the  route  and  of  its  future  adoption  by  the  emigration. 

The  peculiar  manner  in  which  this  road  has  been  assailed  in  official 
papers  reaching  your  bureau  has  alone  compelled  a  recapitulation  of 
these  details,  such  as  are  not  usually  embraced  in  an  Indian  report. 

How  outrages  upon  emigrants  may  ~be  prevented,  or  the  instigators  of 
them  brought  to  justice. 

Reliable  Indian  agents  should  be  appointed,  who  will  reside  with 
the  tribes  owning  the  country  over  which  the  new  road  passes.  These 
tribes  should  be  held  responsible  for  its  protection.  The  leading  war 
riors  have  too  much  good  sense  to  permit  Indians  from  distant  localities 
to  commit  outrages  upon  it,  if  they  are  paid  to  guard  it-.  I  believe 
these  murders  and  robberies  are  caused  by  whites,  who  purchase  the 
stolen  property,  and  sometimes  join  the  Indians  in  making  their  attacks 
on  trains.  It  would  be  a  hard  thing  to  say  that  these  are  all  Mormon 
outrages,  but  the  property  stolen  certainly  often  finds  its  way  into  the 
upper  Mormon  settlements.  Here  the  marauding  bands  are  organized. 
They  winter  about  the  Cache  and  Rush  valley  settlements,  are  fed  by 
Mormon  farmers  during  the  winter,  and  are  on  good  terms  with  them. 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  131 

But  the  population  of  these  upper  settlements,  as  a  class,  are  thrifty 
and  industrious,  and,  I  believe,  law-abiding  citizens.  On  their  way 
to  and  from  the  Salmon  river  settlements,  Mormons  have  often  been 
murdered  by  Pannack  Indians.  Only  last  year  some  mules  were 
stolen  from  a  Mormon  train.  The  Salmon  river  settlements  were 
broken  up  by  Pannacks.  The  statement  made  in  the  last  annual 
report  of  the  honorable  Secretary  of  War,  that  the  Mormons  are  never 
molested  by  the  Indians,  must  therefore  be  regarded  as  grounded  on 
false  intelligence.  The  presence  of  the  agents  residing  with  or  accom 
panying  the  tribes  would  in  time  prove  who  the  instigators  of  these 
murders  are,  and  whether  Gentiles  or  Mormons,  they  could  be  brought 
to  justice.  In  almost  all  communities  remote  from  centers  of  civiliza 
tion,  especially  in  the  Rocky  mountains,  are  to  be  found  desperate 
men,  often  fugitives  from  justice,  and  ready  for  any  enormity.  Some 
of  the  murders  and  robberies  committed  in  this  region  were  perpetrated 
by  Gentiles.  I  have  good  reason  to  believe  that  Gentiles  stimulated  the 
Pannacks  and  Snakes  to  attack  Mormons  and  steal  from  them.  I  know 
the  names  of  two  of  a  party  of  Gentile  horse-thieves  myself,  but  it 
would  interfere  with  proper  inquiry  into  other  outrages  if  I  were  to 
mention  them  in  this  public  paper. 

My  suggestion  in  reference  to  the  employment  of  agents  to  reside  on 
the  emigrant  roads  requires  this  qualification.  Men  unacquainted  with 
Indian  habits  and  manners,  or  used  only  to  settlement  life,  can  be  of 
no  service.  They  can  in  fact  do  great  harm,  being  liable  to  be  de 
ceived  by  designing  individuals  and  led  astray  by  false  intelligence. 
Properly  chosen  agents  might  have  the  power  of  arrest  and  the  means 
of  arresting  bad  white  men.  They  would  be  aided  by  the  chiefs  of  the 
tribes  in  taking  charge  of  bad  Indians.  They  should  be  furnished 
with  enough  transportation  to  enable  them  to  pass  backwards  and  for 
wards  along  the  road  during  the  emigration.  I  know  many  men  of 
that  country  who  can  stand  exposure,  want  no  extra  equipments,  and  on 
the  common  Indian  ponies  of  the  Rocky  mountains,  can  travel  from 
sixty  to  one  hundred  miles  a  day.  Such  men  go  about  the  mountains 
with  a  single  blanket  and  rifle.  They  know  the  Indians  of  the  various 
tribes  individually/and  although  many  of  them  are  extremely  bitter 
against  the  Mormons,  I  believe  would  try  to  do  justice  in  official  rela 
tions.  The  recommendation  of  the  honorable  Secretary  of  War's 
report,  that  enlistment  of  frontier  citizens  should  be  made  for  the  pur 
pose  of  protecting  the  emigrant  routes  is  a  very  highly  important 
one  as  regards  the  roads  through  northern  Utah.  It  has  been  my  own 
experience  in  my  years'  travel  in  the  interior,  that  although  the  officers 
of  the  regular  forces  of  that  country,  after  any  really  hard  experience 
of  rough  mountain  service,  bear  comparison  with  any  leaders  of  troops, 
and  from  their  military  education  would  certainly  appear  the  best 
fitted  for  this  practice  of  their  own  profession,  yet  the  rank  and  file 
are  not  up  to  the  mark  required.  They  are  mostly  foreigners,  recruited 
in  the  large  cities  of  the  East,  and  do  not  shoot,  ride,  or  bring  to  the 
exposed  rapid  marches  of  Indian  warfare  that  spirit  and  Qnergy  which 
seems  to  be  the  inherent  gift  of  our  frontier  population.  One  hundred 
rangers  from  Oregon,  and  the  same  number  from  California,  furnishing 
their  own  horses,  can  probably  protect  the  emigrant  roads  from  those 


132  MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS. 

States  to  the  head  of  the  Humboldt  and  Fort  Hall,  on  the  two 
roads  most  traveled  hy  the  ox-team  emigration.  The  southern  line, 
recently  opened  hy  Captain  Simpson,  is  more  particularly  a  mail  than 
an  emigrant  road.  My  own  experience  of  overland  mail  contractors, 
at  least  of  the  central  route  is,  that  they  do  not  care  to  have  either 
soldiers  or  emigrants  along  their  routes.  The  latter,  especially,  with 
their  large  herds  of  stock,  destroy  the  grass  and  interfere  with  the 
travel  of  the  mail. 

I  think  that  dangerous  portion  of  the  upper  or  Northern  Utah  roads, 
lying  between  the  head  of  the  Humboldt  and  Snake  rivers  and  Green 
River  valley,  should  be  patrolled  during  the  emigration  by  a  mounted 
force  of  one  hundred  rangers,  which,  broken  into  small  parties,  would 
be  susceptible,  by  keeping  express  communication  open,  of  sudden 
concentration  at  any  named  point.  Such  a  force  could  be  raised  in  the 
mountains.  To  do  efficient  service,  each  of  these  men  should  be  pro 
vided  with  two  horses,  one  of  them,  the  better  class  of  ponies  of  the 
mountains,  might  cost  from  seventy-five  to  one  hundred  dollars,  the 
other,  an  acclimated  American  or  half-breed  horse,  would  be  worth  in 
that  country,  under  any  demand,  about  two  hundred  dollars. 

If  a  force  went  up  from  the  border  to  protect  the  roads  of  Northern 
Utah,  it  should  start  from  the  15th  to  the  20th  of  April,  taking  forage 
the  first  three  hundred  miles,  and  move  with  mules,  the  American  horses 
being  led  or  driven  loose.  The  class  of  horses  worth  two  hundred  dollars 
in  the  mountains,  cost  from  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  to  one  hun 
dred  and  sixty  dollars  on  the  border.  Such  a  force  as  I  describe  would 
not  require  practice  on  the  march,  and  could  reach  Green  River  valley 
in  forty-five  days,  hauling  all  camp  equipments  and  sixty  days'  rations. 
It  would  arrive  ahead  of  the  emigration.  Here,  in  the  country  of  the 
friendly  Snakes,  an  encampment  being  made,  the  riding  horses  would, 
within  ten  days  after  their  arrival,  be  fit  for  fast  service. 

By  using  the  mules  of  the  train  for  all  common  or  ordinary  trips, 
(in  this  case  taking  the  place  of  ponies,)  the  horses  would  be  kept  in 
such  heart  that  a  summer  campaign  against  the  Indians  would  be  a 
fully  successful  one. 

Before  the  sixty  days  had  elapsed,  an  ox  train  from  Salt  Lake  City 
or  Fort  Laramie  could  arrive,  with  heavy  freight  of  supplies  and  fat 
beef  cattle.  Leaving  the  horses  to  winter  in  the  mountains  among 
friendly  Indians,  the  expedition  could  return  in  the  fall.  The  pro 
gramme  may  be  varied  or  improved  upon,  the  simple  idea  being  to 
have  efficient  rangers,  good  shots,  and  riders  mounted  on  a  better  class 
of  horses  than  are  ridden  by  Indians,  fresh,  and  fit  for  service,  in  the 
Indian  country,  at  the  proper  time  to  protect  overland  emigrants. 
The  selection  of  such  horses  as  combine  speed  and  the  form  which  en 
ables  them  to  keep  in  good  order  for  work  on  mountain  grass,  is  as 
important. 

The  Indians  I  have  described  keep  runners  out  during  the  entire 
season,  and,  by  short  cuts  over  mountains  not  often  penetrated  by 
whites,  furnish  intelligence  to  distant  bands  of  the  approach  of  troops. 
They  are  always  ridiculing  the  attempts  made  to  overtake  them  by  the 
regular  army.  When  not  in  force  to  fight  at  extreme  odds  in  their 
favor,  they  are  seldom  or  never  found,  where  thus  followed.  I  think 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  133 

the  old,  reiterated  report  of  army  officers,  on  their  return  from  such 
expeditions,  "that  they  saw  no  Indians,"  is  proof  enough  of  this;  and 
my  only  reason  for  these  suggestions  is  that,  if  suitable  agents  and 
presents  sent  into  the  country  are  not  deemed  sufficient  to  protect  the 
road,  a  class  of  troops  fully  capable  of  doing  so  may  be  present. 

THE   WESTERN   SNAKES,  OR   HUMBOLDT   RIVER   INDIANS,    AND   SALT   LAKE 

DIGGERS. 

After  leaving  Baft  river  and  the  tribes  along  the  new  road,  to  which 
my  attention  was  particularly  called  by  the  instructions  given.  I  made 
fruitless  endeavors  to  find  Pocatara's  band.  This  chief,  who  last  year 
had  promised  to  meet  me  near  City  Rocks  when  the  grass  was  begin 
ning  to  dry,  had  been  captured  and  put  in  irons  by  Major  Lynde's 
party,  while  visiting  his  camp  the  present  season.  Prior  to  the  arrest 
of  Pocatara,  he  had  visited  Chief  Engineer  Wagner's  advance  party, 
and  received  presents.  I  am  not  able  to  say  whether  his  warriors  were 
engaged  in  the  Miltimore  and  Shepherd  massacres  or  not.  At  the 
time  of  writing  my  letter  of  August  16,  to  Superintendent  Forney,  I 
did  not  believe  it,  but  I  did  not  then  know  that  Pocatara  had  been 
caught  and  ironed.  He  is  a  very  wild  and  reckless  chief,  but  I  am  not 
disposed  to  alter  my  opinion  of  him  until  further  light  is  thrown  on 
these  transactions.  *  f  '  t  *Kr*r& 

He  has  great  influence  in  the  country,  a-nd-^^TOlgm'^BIller  spare 
a  better  man."  Pocatara's  band  could  have  robbed  Mr.  Wagner's 
party  of  their  valuable  outfit,  or  have  molested  his  progress,  if  he  had 
been  so  disposed.  In  my  wagon  road  report  to  the  honorable  Secre 
tary  of  the  Interior,  of  last  year,  I  said:  "The  Western  Shoshonees, 
termed  by  mountaineers  the  Sho-sho-kos,  hold  the  country  west  of  the 
Pannacks,  on  the  road  to  California.  They  are  a  very  dangerous  and 
warlike  tribe.  It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  the  Western  Shoshonees, 
of  Humboldt  River  and  Goose  Creek  mountains,  have  sometimes  ven 
tured  to  attack  an  equal  number  of  overland  emigrants.  They  fight 
with  the  utmost  determination,  and  with  the  advantages  which  Indians 
inevitably  procure  in  assailing  whites,  have  often  been  successful  in 
the  destruction  of  small  parties  of  our  overland  emigrants. 

"They  generally  assail  them  from  the  willows  of  Humboldt  River 
valley.  When  I  heard  that  these  Indians  had  broken  into  hostilities, 
had  stopped  the  United  States  mail,  and  killed  some  of  the  emigrants, 
who  were,  in  small  parties,  endeavoring  to  reach  California  from  Salt 
Lake  City,  I  thought  it  proper  to  visit  them,  taking  with  me  'Shosho- 
nee  Aleck,'  the  interpreter ;  my  engineers,  Messrs.  Wagner,  Long,  and 
Poor,  Mr.  Campbell,  and  the  mountaineers,  Justus,  Gabriel,  and  Wil 
liamson.  On  my  way,  I  procured  the  services  of  a  leading  warrior  of 
the  Pannack  tribe,  and  by  his  kindness  and  discretion  I  was  enabled 
first  to  obtain  an  interview  with  ten  warriors,  an  outlying  party  of  the 
band  of  Pocatara,  or  the  ' White  Plume.' 

"  The  leader  of  those  ten  warriors  told  me  that  he  would  visit  Poca 
tara's  camp  in  the  mountains,  but  that  the  chief's  heart  was  bad,  and 
that  he  would  not  listen  to  soft  words  from  the  whites.  I  sent  by 
this  messenger  a  few  small  presents  to  Pocatara,  inviting  him  to 


136  MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS. 

than  have  yet  arisen  along  the  emigrant  routes.  In  this  connection 
the  interesting  report  of  Mr.  Wagner  herewith  submitted,  who  went 
in  advance  of  the  emigration,  in  fact  was  alone  in  the  Indian  country, 
with  a  party  of  twelve  men,  during  the  spring  and  early  summer,  is 
important. 

As  I  was  detained  repairing  the  new  road,  and  did  not  arrive  in 
Pocatara's  country  until  late,  and  after  he  was  arrested,  and  the 
troops  were  then  in  the  vicinity,  (a  contingency  not  foreseen  in  making 
my  report  of  last  year,)  I  trust  that  this  explanation  will  be  satisfac 
tory.  In  fact  we  had  neither  the  transportation,  the  authority,  or  the 
time  to  control  the  Indians  of  the  whole  emigrant  road.  In  several 
instances  I  was  unable  to  meet  and  confer  with  the  Indians  because  of 
this  presence  of  troops. 

I  think  the  agents  should  either  have  some  voice  in  the  movement  of 
troops  in  that  country,  or  the  officers  of  the  troops  should  be  the  agents. 
I  had  no  power,  for  instance,  to  request  Captain  Wallen's  command  to 
march  out  of  Raft  River  valley,  that  I  might  call  in  the  Pannacks, 
and  had  no  authority  or  transportation  to  scour  the  mountains  or  hunt 
up  the  band  of  white  men  who,  I  am  convinced,  instigate  these  hos 
tilities. 

If  the  rangers  were  raised  as  recommended  by  the  honorable  Sec 
retary  of  War,  and  officered  by  gentlemen  of  the  army  of  long  experi 
ence  in  interior  life,  those  especially  noted  for  energy  and  success,  I  do 
not  know  why  they  would  not  be  suitable  agents 

After  leaving  the  country  of  Pocatara's  band,  we  saw  but  few 
Indians.  The  25th  of  August,  an  emigrant  guarding  a  band  of  cat 
tle  near  the  willows  of  the  Humboldt,  saw  an  Indian,  as  he  believed, 
endeavoring  to  drive  away  and  secrete  an  ox.  He  shot  at  and  wounded 
the  Indian,  who  escaped. 

I  was  not  advised  of  this  circumstance,  or  should  have  sent  an  ex 
press  to  warn  the  emigrants  that  they  would  be  attacked.  The  day 
after  it  occurred  we  reached  the  same  point  on  the  river,  and  as  we 
were  about  making  camp  for  the  night,  heard  firing  in  advance. 
Leaving  the  train  in  charge  of  John  C.  Burche,  disbursing  agent,  I 
mounted  four  men  on  the  few  horses  of  the  train  suitable  for  such  ser 
vice,  and  went  on  as  fast  as  possible.  We  caught  up  with  the  emi 
grants,  a  small  train,  not  apprised  of  the  collision  of  the  day  before, 
just  as  the  Indians  had  retired  after  killing  one  and  severely  wounding 
another  man.  The  dead  emigrant  was  lying  on  the  ground,  shot 
through  the  body,  and  stripped  of  clothing,  but  not  scalped. 

The  wounded  man  had  made  his  escape.  The  party  to  which  they 
belonged  were  three  miles  ahead,  having  joined  another  train,  and 
gone  into  camp  in  a  secure  position.  It  was  at  this  time  quite  dark. 
The  Indians,  about  fifteen  in  number,  were  followed,  but,  taking  to 
the  willows  in  the  darkness,  made  their  escape.  This  would  not  have 
occurred,  at  least  without  punishment,  if  I  had  felt  justified  in  setting 
fire  to  the  willows.  The  grass  was  dry,  and  the  road  back  thronged 
with  emigrants,  which  prevented  it.  When  the  train  arrived,  the 
body  of  the  dead  man  was  taken  to  his  relatives. 

The  morning  after,  with  a  party  of  five  men,  I  took  the  trail.  We 
followed  a  long  distance,  and  until  fires  raised  on  the  surrounding 


MASSACRE   AT   MOUNTAIN   MEADOWS.  1ST 

mountains  showed  us  that  the  Indians  had  obtained  too  great  a  start 
to  permit  of  our  overtaking  them  without  halting  the  expedition  several 
days.  Dr.  John  W.  Stittinus,  physician  of  the  train,  took  charge  of 
the  wounded  man,  who  eventually  recovered. 


Schedule  of  the  number  of  the  various  bands  referred,  to  in  this  report, 
or  visiting  the  emigrant  roads  via  the  South  Pass. 

I  have  estimated  seven  individuals  to  the  lodge.  This  is  a  larger 
number  than  is  usual  in  a  buffalo  country,  where  the  skin  lodge  is 
less  costly  than  among  the  Snakes. 

SHOSHONEES   OR   EASTERN   SNAKES. 

Chief,  Wash-i-kee  or  Wash-i-keek ;  in  English,  ' '  Gambler's  Gourd ;" 
or  Pina-qua-na;  in  English,  " Smell  of  Sugar."  Lodges,  125;  sub 
sistence,  buffalo,  small  game,  fish,  wild  roots,  and  seeds;  range,  Green 
river  country;  horses,  a  large  number. 

SALMON   RIVER   SNAKES,  BANNACKS   AND   SNAKES   AND   SHEEP-EATERS. 

Chief,  Qui-tan-i-wa;  in  English,  "Foul  Hand,"  with  "Old  Snag;" 
and  the  Bannack  "Grand  Coquin."  Lodges,  50;  subsistence,  salmon 
and  trout,  elk,  deer,  and  antelope;  range,  on  Salmon  river  and  the 
mountains  north  of  it;  horses,  a  small  number.  A  small  band  of  the 
Sheep-eaters  are  very  fierce  and  wild,  rarely  visiting  whites. 

WESTERN   SNAKES. 

Chief,  Am-a-ro-ko ;  in  English,  "Buffalo  Meat  under  the  Shoulder." 
Lodges,  *T5 ;  subsistence,  buffalo  meat  and  wild  vegetables ;  range, 
Kamass  prairie;  horses,  large  number.  Po-ca-ta-ra's  band,  Goose 
Creek  mountains,  head  of  Humboldt,  Kaft  creek,  and  Mormon  settle 
ments;  horses,  few. 

BANNACKS,    OR  PANNAKEES  OR  PANNACKS. 

Chief,  Mo-pe-ah;  in  English,  "Horn  of  Hair  on  the  Forehead." 
Lodges,  60 ;  subsistence,  buffalo  meat  and  wild  vegetables ;  range,  in 
the  country  of  Salt  river  and  tributaries ;  horses,  large  number. 

BANNACKS   OF   FORT  BOISE. 

Chief,  Po-e-ma-che-ah ;  in  English,  "Hairy  Man."  Lodges,  100; 
subsistence,  salmon  fish,  wild  vegetables,  and  roots;  range,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Fort  Boise ;  horses,  large  number. 

SALT  LAKE   DIGGERS,  LOWER   OR   SOUTHERN   SNAKES. 

Chief,  (Indian  name  unknown,)  in  English,  "Long  Beard."  Lodges, 
50 ;  subsist  amongst  the  Mormons  and  by  hunting  and  plunder ;  range, 
around  Salt  lake ;  horses,  few. 
Ex.  Doc.  42 10 


138  MASSACSB  AT  MOUNTAIN 


WARRARICAS,    (iff    Itf&LISH    "SUtf-tflOwfili    SEED   Ei^EIig/')    OR    DIGGERS    OR: 
BANNAC&S,  B^LOW  FORT  BOISE,  WtfStf.  OF  fiLttt!  MOUNTAINS. 

Chief,  Pash-e-co  or  Pa-chi-co;  in  English,  "Sweet  Boot/'  medicine 
man,  and  head  of  all  th®  Bannacks  or  Pannakees  ;  thought  a  wonderful 
prophet  by  the  Sfidtefe  Lodges,  150;  subsistence,  roots,  and  the 
kamass,  wiith^  ptender:;  range,  head  of  John  Day's  river  and  west  of 
Blue  mountains;  horses,  very  few.  They  steal  the  latter  from  the 
Cay  uses. 

JO1  {the  -above  Indians  travel  together  and  intermarry,  They  hold 
tits  <entlire  \fcctaBa  try..  1  'ooWsktar  the  Eastern  Snakes  as  in  some  measure 
isolated  from  the  rest,  and  a$  belag  mere  particularly  under  the  direc 
tion  of  the  reliable  chief,  Wasrr-i-kee-. 

f  If  the  leading  men  of  the  disaffected  tribes  could  be  induced  to 
visit  ^  Washington,  it  would  serve  &n  important  purpose.  They  know 
nothing  of  the  number  and  actual  power  of  the  Gentiles,  so  called, 
and,  m  my  opinion,  are  constantly  deceived  in  regard  to  them. 

[  recommend  to  you  any  of  the  following  individuals  as  suitable 
persons  to  carry^out  your  views  in  reference  to  the  collection  of  any 
information  required,  or  the  establishment  of  agents  in  the  country  : 
Timothy  Groodale  would  make  a  suitable  agent  for  the  Eastern  Snakes  ; 
he  is  very  reliable,  and  has  great  influence  with  the  chief,  Wash-i-keeC 
From  circumstances  occurring  which  led  me  to  doubt  some  of  iha> 
statements  of  individuals  having  influence  with  the  tribe,  and  present: 
at  the  payment,  I  sent  a  night  express  after  Goodale,  and  he  was  of 
great  service  to  me  at  that  time.  He  is  now  in  this  city;  if  required! 
for  service  would  need  a  notification,  as  he  is  a  mountain  trader,  and). 
will  soon  leave  for  the  border. 

Thomas  Adams,  a  citizen  of  this  district,  but  who  has  passed  the 
last  seven  years  in  the  Bocky  mountains-,  is  well  known  among  those 
Pannacks  and  Western  Snakes  who  range  east  of  Salmon  falls  and 
north  of  Snake  river.  He  is  also  familiar  with  some  of  the-  Sa]»t  Lake- 
Diggers. 

Old  Richard  Srflfli,  who  Wa^  for1  many  years  the  Hudson  Bay  factor 
at  Fort  Hall,  understands  these  western  Indians  perfectly,  and  is  now 
in  that  country.  Hig  tfoii,-  John  Grant,  who-  is  married  into  the 
Western  Snake  tribe,  and  is-  brother-in-law  of  the  celebrated  Ten-toi, 
is  not  so  well  educated,  but  cari  give  much  information  about  them. 
He  was  born  and  reared  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Hall. 

Thomas  Lavatti,  the  half-breed  already  referred  to  in  this  report,  is 
one  of  the  best  men  in  the  mountains  —  brave,  reliable,  and  sensible  in 
all  his  views  in  relation  to  the  Indians.  I  think  his  advice  as  to  the 
best  method  of  approaching  and  controlling  the  Western  Snakes  and 
Pannacks  to  prevent  war,  by  the  use  of  presents  or  by  a  little  timely 
severity  to  the  worst  members  of  the  tribes,  in  concert  with  their 
chiefs,  might  be  received  with  consideration.  He  is  a  most  excellent 
interpreter. 

Isaac  Frapp,  or  Shoshonee  Aleck,  the  half-breed,  who  has  been  two 
years  in  the  employment  of  the  expedition,  is  a  very  excellent  and 
faithful  man.  He  is  both  brave  and  honest.  His  services  of  the  pre 
sent  season  are  referred  to  in  Mr.  Wagner's  report, 


MASSACRE  AT  MOUNTAIN  MEADOWS.  139 

I  think  it  will  be  necessary  to  have  a  road  agent  at  the  South  Pass 
the  coming  season  to  inform  emigrants  of  the  new  road,  and  to  prevent 
the  emigration  being  directed  across  the  desert  by  interested  parties, 
who  pick  up  the  abandoned,  or  buy,  at  low  prices,  the  tired  cattle  of 
overland  travelers.  This  road  agent  should  have  the  protection  of  a 
few  companions. 

It  is  my  opinion  that  Indian  presents  should  again  be  sent  into  the 
country,  for  the  agents  can  do  nothing  without  them. 

For  these  purposes  I  have  advised  the  sending  up  of  a  small  train 
by  the  Interior  Department  out  of  the  remaining  funds  of  the  wagon 
road  expedition.  If  it  is  sent,  arrangements  can  readily  be  made  for 
the  transportation  of  the  goods  and  further  communication  with  the 
Snake  and  Pannack  Indians. 

If  Mr.  J.  C.  Campbell  is  not  sent  to  the  California  end  of  the  road 
on  business  for  the  department,  he  can  be  of  service  in  these  operations, 
from  his  knowledge  of  the  country.  He  has  been  employed  upon  the 
wagon  road  expedition  since  the  commencement  of  the  first  explora 
tions,  and  was  in  charge  of  that  portion  of  last  year's  outfit  which  was 
wintered  at  Salt  Lake. 

Mr.  C.  C.  Wrenshall,  a  young  man  of  great  energy  and  force  of 
character,  I  can  particularly  recommend  in  any  movements  of  the  kind 
proposed.  He  has  distinguished  himself  during  his  connection  with 
the  expedition  in  various  ways,  and  is  fully  capable  of  selecting  and 
purchasing  the  stock,  and  of  equipping  and  managing  an  expedition  in 
all  its  details  while  in  the  field.  At  least  that  is  my  experience  of  him. 

The  picked  men  of  the  old  command  are  still  along  the  border,  and 
if  orders  emanate  from  the  department  prior  to  the  twentieth  of  March 
there  will  be  no  difficulty  in  a  train  reaching  the  Indian  country 
before  the  emigrants. 

Much  extra  labor  has  been  thrown  upon  Mr.  James  A.  Snyder,  the 
commissary  of  the  expedition,  in  carrying  out  the  instructions  of  your 
bureau,  and  in  the  disbursement  of  the  Indian  presents.  He  has  had 
the  entire  management  of  this  important  service  under  my  own  direc 
tion.  He  is  another  gentleman  of  long  experience  in  mountain  life 
and  intercourse  with  Indians,  whom  I  can  particularly  recommend  to 
you  as  an  energetic,  faithful,  and  conscientious  public  officer. 

None  of  the  gentlemen  of  the  expedition,  called  upon  to  do  (some 
times  quite  severe)  extra  service  in  the  Indian  department,  a  service 
for  which  they  were  never  retained,  hav$  ever  claimed  or  received  com 
pensation. 

The  extreme  length  and  discursive  style  of  this  report  may  be  excused 
from  the  importance  of  the  subject  treated. 

The  pacification  or  proper  restraint  of  the  wild  tribes  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  Mormon  settlements,  and  along  the  great  central  route  of  over 
land  emigration^  cannot  be  too  closely  considered. 

I  am,,  sir,  very  respectfully,  vour  obedient  servant, 

F.  W.  LANDEK. 

Hon.  A.  B.  GREENWOOD, 

Commissioner  of  Indian  Affairs. 


